Facing the Challenges of a Bilingual Education Program in the 21st Century

Abstract

Schooling involves more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. Schools also socialize students to embrace broader socio-cultural values and norms. Important socio-cultural values of public education in the Western world are appreciation and understanding of linguistic and cultural diversity as well as reduction of intolerance and prejudice towards others who are different from oneself. These are important goals for students in most schools, because they encounter linguistic and cultural differences in their own classrooms. As a result, getting to know and understand other languages and cultures is important for students to be able to empathize and appreciate many of their classmates