"More than their younger siblings may do, high school students who came to this country as teenagers struggle while learning English in school. For one, the younger brain learns language more quickly than the teen brain does. The concepts and material high schoolers face in class are more complex and difficult than the ideas taught in elementary school. And teens study more subjects at a faster pace than do younger kids."
"Many young people long to be bilingual. They know it's necessary for school and work, and aim to earn a seal of biliteracy, recognizing that they've mastered two languages. Several San Jose High School students who are native Spanish speakers say learning English is complicated. They wish the school had more resources to help them. San Jose has one of the largest Hispanic population, about 300,000, among cities in the Bay Area."
High school students who immigrate as teenagers often struggle to learn English because adolescent brains acquire language more slowly than younger children's. High school curricula present more complex concepts, faster pacing, and a greater number of subjects, increasing learning difficulty. Many immigrant students aspire to be bilingual and pursue a seal of biliteracy for school and work advantages. San Jose High School has a predominantly Hispanic student body and offers basic ESL classes, Spanish classes for native speakers, and occasional teacher translations. Several students report those resources are insufficient. One senior uses Google Translate and felt hopeless when unable to understand teachers.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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