# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Almost one in 10 U.S. students in grades K-12 - about 5 million children total - are pulling double duty in school, learning English as a second language while absorbing math, science, social studies and all of the other subjects they need.

That number increased by about 1 million students over the past two decades, according to the latest statistics available from the U.S. Department of Education. While about three-quarters of those students speak Spanish at home, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Somali and Russian are also on the top 10 list, according to federal data.

The increasingly multilingual character of America's student population creates a high-stakes challenge for all parties involved, including children in classrooms, parents who want to see them flourish and educators charged with teaching an increasingly diverse population.

A student's ability to learn English impacts their ability to learn other subjects, and decades of research have gone into evolving frameworks and curriculum to support English learners. Now, schools are increasingly looking for teachers with specialized skills, training and cultural sensitivity to ensure that English is accessible.

"Unless you're explicit and purposeful about language development, it won't happen," says Tomás Galguera, a professor of education at Mills College in Oakland, California. "It must be done in a hands-on, direct way. That's why teacher education must have a framework. It is so much more complex than vocabulary."

Teaching An Increasingly Diverse Student Population

A Brookings Institution report in 2017 noted that America's need for teachers with ESL training is growing. The increasing immigrant population and the move to more integrated instruction, in which English language learners are educated alongside native speakers in the same classroom, means that teachers nationwide are more likely to be confronted with students who are still learning English.

"Most teachers, regardless of where they teach, will have a very good chance of encountering ELs (English learners) during their careers," the report says. "This creates a need not only for specialists but also for general teachers who are prepared to support ELs in the classroom."

There are few better examples than the Los Angeles Unified School District, which serves 600,000 K-12 students across more than 1,000 schools. Roughly 45% of those students are either in the process of learning English as a second language or have transitioned out of that phase.

"If you look at the makeup of Los Angeles, LA Unified represents a tapestry of multiculturalism and multilingualism," says Lydia Acosta Stephens, executive director of the district's Multilingual and Multicultural Education Department.

Teaching English, experts say, goes far beyond the basics of oral and written language instruction. It often requires cultural understanding.

"We believe in the value of every child," Stephens says. "It always begins by knowing a child's name and then their potential, needs, and social and emotional assets - and we don't stop there. Our ultimate goal is building on who they are."

Experts say that starts with eliminating any stigma for those learning English. Stephens, herself once an English learner in Los Angeles schools, says that was not always the case. "There was shame for me to use my home language at school," in the 1980s, she says. "It was not honored."

"We're beginning to change labels," Galguera says. "Instead of 'English learner,' we call the students 'bilingual.'"

Challenges for English Language Learners

Teaching English to students who have been raised speaking Spanish, Russian, Armenian, Vietnamese or other languages from around the world can present a variety of challenges, experts say.

For example, there is often trauma involved in making the transition to a new school system in a new country with a different language. A student who arrives in a U.S. school with a strong academic background from a stable country has different needs than one whose family fled war or poverty and who may have little schooling, Galguera says.

"There are more basic needs that the teacher needs to tend to than ever before," he says.

Because some English learners may have witnessed "the ugly side of life," Galguera says young teachers are taught to be more aware of their actions and to see classroom policies and procedures through the lens of the student. "For example, putting a hand on the shoulder of a student can be triggering," Galguera says, rather than the caring gesture that was intended.

Local or national attitudes about immigrants can also present a problem, Stephens says. In recent years, immigration has become a flashpoint in the national political conversation, and children can be confronted with hurtful, negative rhetoric.

Yet ensuring that students are able to feel safe and learn amid all of this is vital because learning English is integral to accessing the rest of the curriculum.

"The bottom line is they have to learn valuable content like math," Galguera says.

The Importance of ESL Training

To meet the need, a growing number of schools and districts seek out teachers with ESL training and some require teachers with ESL certification, regardless of the subject they teach. Many colleges and universities have integrated that training into their teacher education programs so new teachers can apply it throughout their careers.

At Bradley University in Illinois, for example, the school's education program embeds ESL, culture and history within the curriculum, says Dean Cantu, associate dean and chair of the Department of Teacher Education.

"ESL plays a major role for our students," Cantu says. "We have embedded [ESL] in many of our degree programs, including childhood education, elementary education, special education and middle school education."

The highest percentage of English learners in K-12 are in the western portion of the country, in states such as California (20%), Texas (17%), Nevada (16%), New Mexico (13%) and Colorado (12%), according to federal statistics. But the number jumped 28% nationwide between 2000 and 2017, with 43 states seeing an increase.

"The need is here today and it's also going to be here tomorrow," Cantu says of the demand for ESL teacher training. "It's an essential skill set for our students to have over the course of their career. It's in high demand."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How English as a Second Language Affects Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Almost one in 10 U.S. students in grades K-12 - about 5 million children total - are pulling double duty in school, learning English as a second language while absorbing math, science, social studies and all of the other subjects they need.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
One of the best ways to make use of your children's free time is to encourage them to start learning a new skill. Children who perform well in school academics are those that are keen to learn something new every day, be it mastering a new skill such as painting or singing or learning a second language.

We live in a multilingual society, where maintaining social connections are more important than ever. However, there is an enormous number of benefits to being bilingual. As the result, your child is able to perform well in school and their chosen careers. Lastly, it can help in improving the memory and brain functions of your child. This can further help in increasing the understanding of the languages your child already knows.

It can reshape your child's career to a great extent. However, with English being the world's widely used language, many parents believe that it's not important to learn a new language. However, these are not the only advantages of learning a second language at school. As a parent, it is important to make your child understand the social and psychological benefits too.

We have curated a list of important factors that will help your children to develop an understanding of the second language.
1. It Helps in Enhancing Creativity in Children
One of the greatest benefits of learning a second language is that it helps in enhancing creativity in the student. The course syllabus that makes up the foundation for a second language program goes beyond learning the vocabulary, and grammar. The process of learning encourages students to learn, and understand their culture and traditions. It also helps the learners to indulge in visual and audio entertainment which will further help in strengthening their base. The audio and visual entertainment can comprise of the following- listening to music and reading books written in that language.
2. It Helps in Creating New Travel Opportunities
Well, who doesn't like to travel? We are pretty sure that your kids love traveling. And by learning a second language your children can convert their passion for traveling into a reality. If your child has been studying French at school they will find it quicker to visit and settle in France. The best part is that your child will be able to settle well and find a job with ease. Their knowledge of a second language will enable them to travel and meet new people from all over the world.
3. It Helps in Increasing Self-Confidence
When your kids will study and speak another language, they will be able to achieve a milestone that you have set. This alone will give them confidence, especially when interacting with other children.
4. It Helps in Simplifying the Process of Decision Making
As a parent are you always stressed that your kids may make a bad decision? Well, learning a second language could be a life-changer! The ability to make quick and informed decisions turns out to be fairly easy for children with other bilingual skills.

5. It Helps in Stimulating Curiosity in Children
Learning a second language at an early age will help in stimulating a child's curiosity and will make them more receptive to learning. They will be better aware of all the things that are happening around them. Mastering a new language will also help your kids to develop a better understanding of the world around them.
6. It Helps in Making You Culturally More Aware
Language is one of the most important things that also serves as a basis for developing a direct connection with other cultures. Being able to communicate in another language will expose your child to and foster appreciation for the traditions. As the result, your child will be able to express more positive attitudes toward the culture associated with that language.
7. It Helps in Gaining a Positive Perspective
As your children will explore a new language and culture, they will be able to draw comparisons to what is most familiar to them. Learning about new culture will make your kids learn more about the aspects of their own culture- both positive and negative.
8. It Helps in Boosting Their Academic Achievement
The cognitive benefits of learning a second language can have a direct impact on a child's academic performance. Therefore, bilingual children will have an improved sense of reading, writing, and other important skills.
9. It Helps in Mastering in Their Mother Tongue
Children who learn another language before the age of 5 use the same part of the brain to strengthen that second language that they use to learn their mother tongue. Younger children are not even afraid of committing mistakes, which can sometimes act as an obstacle for older children.

10. It Helps in Strengthening Personal Development
By introducing your child to the second language, they will be exposed to new ideas and new challenges which will, in turn, lead to personal growth and development. As the result, your child will be able to see themselves and the world differently around them. At last, learning a second language is something to be proud of and you should always encourage your child to learn something new.
Benefits of Learning a Second Language
Apart from learning and understanding the importance of a second language, it is also vital to have an understanding of the benefits that it has in store for you.
1. Improves Attention Span
With the human attention span narrowing down increasingly, as per many studies, learning a new language may be the ultimate solution for this problem. Researchers indicate that learning a second language helps the brain maintain focus and block unwanted distractions.

2. Enhances Multitasking Skills

Not many people are good at multitasking. However, this situation may always imply bilingual people. In fact, they are the ones who are the most experienced when it comes to multitasking. Their brain is extremely adaptive as the individual will be switching between one language and another. Perhaps, once the brain gets used to this routine of switching from one language to another, they can master almost every skill with the same consistency.
3. Improves Your Memory
The brain is often compared to muscles. The more physical exercise you do, the more muscles tend to strengthen and get stronger. Well, this applies to the brain too. The more you challenge it, the more the brain expands, and the better it functions. Hence, you can think of learning a language as an exercise for the brain. Initially, you are supposed to learn the basics of the language followed by mastering the basic grammar rules and vocabulary, which also strengthens your memory muscle. That is also the reason why people who know more than one language are likely to retain information. As a result, your kids will be better able to remember lists, names, and cell phone numbers.
4. Improvises Your Kid's Networking Skills
When your child is exposed to a new language, you are also likely to open up to the traditions and culture of that language. Doing so will enable your child to be more apprehensive about other people's actions and opinions. Their ability to communicate in a new language will put them at the advantage of seeing the world from another perspective.
Final Thoughts
Learning a second language enhances all the aspects of your kid's life. Surprisingly, when it comes to learning the options are endless at PiggyRide!

From online French classes to online Spanish classes, you can explore an extensive range of foreign languages with PiggyRide and equip your little learners with proper linguistic skills.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Is It Important To Learn A Second Language At School? - PiggyRide

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
One of the best ways to make use of your children's free time is to encourage them to start learning a new skill. Children who perform well in school academics are those that are keen to learn something new every day, be it mastering a new skill such as painting or singing or learning a second language.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Just Speak: Why learning English is important?