Some days back I was talking to a friend about the education system and requirements of the United States. We brought forth research statistics establishing the need for teaching math to US kids. We were shocked to find that according to a research conducted by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), the scores and rankings of 12 nations in the 2003 International Mathematics Assessments for Grades 4 and 8, US did not stand anywhere close to the top.
Arne Duncan, US Secretary of Education shocked everyone by saying that “We are lagging the rest of the world, and we are lagging it in pretty substantial ways, I think we have become complacent. We’ve sort of lost our way”.
Why the US needs English learning programs? The answer lies in multicultural and ethnical diversity. Hadn’t it been so, wouldn’t US have a national language? Presence of many dialects and languages add to the MTI (Mother Tongue Influence). Teachers and educators across the United States find it difficult to apply a single teaching system to kids belonging to diverse cultural backgrounds.
Most American kids are not fluent in writing English. Moreover, spoken English among kids is also not grammatically correct most of the times. Use of slangs and so called ‘cool’ lingo makes the situation worse. Using the right combination of technology and teaching methodology, Online English tutors can simplify English learning to a great extent. Online English tutors should focus on three aspects of English- Grammar, writing, and speaking.
It’s time we shed some myths about the English speaking skills of kids in the US!
BrainQuotient