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Jan 10, 1500
The beginning of ESL (English as a second language)
The teaching of ESL (English as a second language) began in the 15th century with the advent of England's increased trading and colonization throughout the world. The British were instrumental in developing large scale programs to teach English in their trading countries and colonies. -
ESL outside of England
As the British empire continued to grow, they needed a way to communicate with and effectively govern their overseas businesses and colonies. During the next two hundred years, the British sent many teachers overseas to educate a upper-class colonists and local government officials, indoctrinating them with British ideas and culture, including the English language. -
ESL in the USA
By the middle of the 19th century and into the beginning of the 20th century, the opportunities in the United States had increased multi-fold. Millions of immigrants flooded the U.S.for the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. -
Influx of Immigrants
Most immigrants wound up in large cities, living in ethnic neighborhoods with other immigrants of the same nationality. In such an enclave, a working knowledge of English was not necessary to survival.
Immigrant communities wished to both retain their cultural traditions and participate in American life, and America, having been built on the belief that all men are free to do so, did its best to be accommodating. -
Languages of Local Cultures
Bilingual or non-English instruction popped up in both public and private schools across the nation depending on the culture of the local population (French was spoken in Louisiana, for example, Spanish in Arizona and New Mexico, etc.).
This multi-language orientation in America continued until the late 1800s when the United States, groping for some sense of a national identity and began to mold all Americans into a cultural standard; proclaiming English as the national language. -
Naturalization Act of 1906
The Naturalization Act of 1906 was an act of the United States Congress signed into law by Theodore Roosevelt that revised the law from 1870 and required immigrants to learn English in order to become naturalized citizens. The bill was passed on June 29, 1906, and took effect September 27, 1906. -
Companies embraces ESL
In 1914, the Ford Motor Company started an in-house English program for its employees as a part of its controversial $5-a-day wage program. In order for employees to garner the full wage, they were required to meet certain standards of living.
One such standard was that families live in single family homes as opposed to small apartments. As a company benefit, Ford offered English classes to employees who wished to fully participate in the special wage program. -
English-only Education
By the mid-1920s, most states had instituted English-only instructional policies in both private and public schools, which was essentially a form of submersion education for immigrant children. Adult immigrants struggle to learn English on their own in order to gain employment, conduct their daily lives and, eventually become a citizen. -
American ESL Education
It was not until World War II and just after that the United States began to recognize once again the importance of foreign languages, foreign language education.
During this time (1950s-1980s), linguists and educators put a lot of effort into researching language, language learning and language teaching, producing a variety of ESL teaching methods that are still used, at least in part, today. -
Bilingual Education Act
The Bilingual Education Act (BEA) (81 Stat. 816), also known as Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Amendments of 1967 (Pub.L. 90–247), approved by the 90th United States Congress on January 2, 1968, and was the first United States federal legislation recognized the needs of limited English speaking ability (LESA) students. The BEA was introduced in 1967 by Texas senator Ralph Yarborough and was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on January 2, 1968.
