History of ELL

By: Olivia Heyser, Celine Hermann, Megan

Turner, and Lauren Seitz
Objectives:
Relate Americas early languages to the
development of ELL education.
Recall facts about the history of ELL.
Create a timeline of the history of ELL.
Bilingualism in Colonial America
18 different languages spoken by
European ethnic groups and Indian tribes.
Being bilingual was common among the
working classes as well as the educated.
Native language schools were most
common throughout the colonies.
...Bilingualism in Colonial America
Continued
German-speaking Americans
were operating schools in 1694
in Philadelphia.
By 1750, all schools hoped to
teach instruction in English,
which angered German parents.
No Official Language
During the American Revolution people wanted to get rid of English
as the main language and wanted German, French, Greek or
Hebrew to become the national language.
John Adams was the first person to try and establish a school strictly
to improve people's language.
In 1780 he proposed the American Language academy, which
aimed to improve and correct peoples ability to speak English.
However, his idea was ignored by continental congress.
...No Official Language Continued

Benjamin Rush also wanted to create a school system of

bilingual higher education, which was supposed to be a
federally funded German College.
The nations first institution of higher education was found in
1787 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and it was conducted
primarily in German. This school continues today as Franklin
and Marshall College.
By the mid 1800s German-american schools were the most
common at the time, with lessons being taught in both
German and English.
Did German Almost Become the Official
U.S. Language?
A myth that came after the Civil
War is that German failed by a
single vote to become the official
language of the U.S.
Frederick A.C. Muhlenberg, a
Pennsylvania German who served
as the first Speaker of the U.S.
House of Representatives, broke
the tie involving important federal
laws in the German language.
How ELL Education Became What it is
Today:
In the 1960s, English as a second language was common
among many, now it is prescribed for language minority
children.
Pull-out classes were the most common form of ESL
instruction.
In 1966, Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages
was created (TESOL).
Up until the late 1980s, based on IQ tests administered in
English, disproportionate numbers of language-minority
children ended up in special education classes.
Timeline of ELL
1840: State systems of public education were established, some schools
were bilingual
1954: Brown v. BOE: students were entitled to an education in which
everyone had the same opportunities as another student
1958: The National Defense Act encouraged the study of foreign languages
in school
1963: ELL officially established due to rise in Cuban immigrants in Florida
1964: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act states that there can be no
discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. This act is the reason
why schools received funding to support these programs.
1968: Bilingual Education Act VII - the federal government gave grants and
resources to schools to help develop and train teachers to teach their
students successfully.
2002: No Child Left Behind Act
Timeline worksheet
Work with a partner and create a history of ELL timeline.
Discussion Question
How does the information on bilingualism in the colonies
relate to ELL education?