Committee majority finds fault with English-language proposal

PORTLAND, OR–Voters should reject strict limits on Oregon schools’ ability to teach non-native English speakers in their native language because the time limit is too rigid and research says it won’t work, a panel says. The recommendation came from 61 percent of the people on an independent 23-member citizen review panel that examined Measure 58 in exacting detail this week. full story  another newspaper

The Bilingual debate

NEW YORK TIMES–In this installment of Education Watch, Bruce Fuller and Lance T. Izumi discuss the candidates’ positions on bilingual education. Mr. Fuller argues that bilingual education can work given the right training, and Mr. Izumi says that English immersion works better. Mr. Fuller’s piece  Mr. Izumi’s piece

Overqualified, underemployed

STOCKTON, CA–In the present, Ismael Cortez is accustomed to living modestly. Cortez, once a respected teacher in Mexico, owned a two-story home that featured a library of 2,000 books. He spent his time with intellectual pursuits by reading and associating with politicians, professors and community leaders. But in the late 1990s, Cortez moved to the United States. full story

More out of pocket if “out of country” student

MARQUETTE, MI–International students at Northern Michigan University may have to pay more for tuition in the future. The Board of Trustees is considering a three-tier tuition system, something that would be a first in Michigan. It would raise tuition for out of country students who currently pay out of state rates. full story

Teaching multiple languages to children in Lebanon: How soon is too soon for little minds?

BEIRUT, LEBANON–It is still early in the morning, but the children at the lou&lo preschool in Hamra’s Wardieh district are already very busy. In the school’s various motor, language, art and music centers different groups of girls and boys aged 10 months to 3 years identify the colors of their modeling clay in French and the days of the week in English, and sing songs in both languages. full story

‘Amigos and Friends’ help teach English as a second language

CHARLESTON, IL–Every Tuesday and Thursday night, the Newman Catholic Center fills with students and teachers. The students, or amigos, pair up with their teachers, who are called friends, and start their individual sessions as the clock strikes 10:15 p.m. The one-on-one sessions are part of the full story

DOT, Korean quiz show to promote English

MANILLA, PHILIPPINES–The Department of Tourism (DOT) has tied up with a popular quiz show for schoolchildren in South Korea as part of its efforts to further promote the Philippines English as Second Language (ESL) program. The quiz show, Superkids, a hit in full story

Foreign Students Flock to Australia for Vocational Education

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA–Vocational education and training courses appear to be the hot new growth area for Australia’s international-education market, with a 44-percent increase in foreign enrollments over the previous year, according to July 2008 statistics released by the government this month full story