GED Essay Example: Bilingual Education Topic
Students preparing for the GED Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) extended response must demonstrate strong analytical writing skills through argumentative essays. Educational policy topics, particularly debates surrounding bilingual education programs, frequently appear on this section of the exam. This comprehensive GED essay bilingual education sample illustrates effective strategies for evaluating evidence, constructing logical arguments, and achieving success on the RLA extended response portion.
Read the prompt and task instruction below. Your task is to write a well-organized extended response of at least 300 words in 45 minutes, as shown in the Model Response that follows.
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Task Instruction
Task Instruction for GED essay bilingual education
Analyze the arguments presented in the two speeches. In your response, develop an argument in which you explain how one position is better supported than the other. Incorporate relevant and specific evidence from both sources to support your argument. Remember, the better-argued position is not necessarily the position with which you agree. This task should take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
Bilingual Education Helps All Students
By Dr. Helena Ruiz (Published in Language and Learning Journal)
Bilingual education offers more than just language skills. It builds cognitive flexibility, strengthens academic achievement, and prepares students for a global economy. Integrating bilingual instruction into schools benefits both native English speakers and English learners by promoting cultural understanding and academic engagement.
Research has shown that students in dual-language programs often outperform their peers in English-only classrooms. A 2021 study from the Center for Language Development found that students enrolled in bilingual education scored higher on standardized reading tests by fifth grade, regardless of their first language. These programs also help English learners develop literacy in both languages without falling behind in core subjects.
Critics claim that bilingual programs delay English fluency, but this view underestimates the advantages of additive language development. Rather than replacing one language with another, bilingual education supports growth in both. This results in stronger overall communication skills and deeper understanding of academic content.
Furthermore, bilingualism is a practical skill in today’s world. In many industries, being fluent in more than one language increases job opportunities and earning potential. Schools should reflect this reality by offering more comprehensive bilingual options, not just for English learners, but for all students.
Instead of viewing bilingual education as a special service, it should be embraced as a mainstream strategy for academic success and long-term opportunity. The benefits of a bilingual approach extend beyond the classroom and into every aspect of life in an increasingly connected world.
English Immersion Is More Effective
By Thomas Granger, Curriculum Specialist in English Language Arts
While bilingual education is well-intentioned, English immersion remains the most effective way to help students succeed in the U.S. school system. Students need strong English skills to participate fully in academics and society, and delaying this development through dual-language instruction can create barriers rather than remove them
English immersion programs prioritize rapid language acquisition, which allows students to engage with academic content more quickly. A 2020 report from the National Literacy Institute showed that English learners in well-structured immersion settings reached grade-level reading performance faster than those in bilingual programs. Early immersion also helps students build confidence, reducing the stigma that can come from being labeled as “different” in a separate track.
There is also a concern about resources. Bilingual programs often require specialized teachers, dual-language materials, and smaller class sizes. These added demands can strain school budgets, especially in underfunded districts. Focusing on strong English instruction ensures that all students receive consistent support without creating a divide between programs.
In addition, immersion programs reflect the reality of life in the United States, where English remains the dominant language in education, employment, and civic life. While learning a second language can be valuable, the top priority should be ensuring that every student becomes proficient in English as soon as possible..
Bilingual education may offer long-term benefits for some, but English immersion provides the most direct path to success in school and beyond. Schools should focus on what works best for the greatest number of students with the resources available.
Model Response on GED Essay Bilingual Education Topic
The debate about how schools should help students learn English is important for education today. Both authors make good points supported by research, but Dr. Helena Ruiz’s support for bilingual education is more convincing overall, even though Thomas Granger raises real concerns about putting these programs into practice.
Granger’s criticism of bilingual programs deals with actual problems that teachers and schools face every day. His point about limited resources makes sense because many school districts already don’t have enough money and staff. Needing special teachers and materials in two languages costs more money that could hurt schools that are already struggling financially. Also, his mention of the 2020 National Literacy Institute study shows real benefits of immersion programs, especially in helping students learn to read faster at first. Granger also brings up an important social issue, pointing out that separate programs might actually make students feel left out instead of helping them fit in.
In addition, Granger’s focus on English skills addresses what schools really need to do. Since English is the main language used in classes, jobs, and citizenship in America, helping students learn it quickly makes practical sense. His argument that immersion helps students join regular classes faster reflects real worries about making sure all students can succeed in normal school settings.
Still, Ruiz makes a stronger case with better evidence for bilingual teaching. Her research directly challenges what Granger assumes, showing that dual-language programs actually help rather than slow down English learning. The fact that bilingual students did better on fifth-grade reading tests goes against claims that learning two languages delays progress. Also, Ruiz’s explanation of how keeping students’ first languages while building English skills creates brain benefits that help with all school subjects is convincing.
Beyond just classroom results, Ruiz’s argument includes bigger educational goals that prepare students for a connected world. Being able to speak multiple languages gives clear advantages in future careers and talking with people from different cultures that last much longer than elementary school. While Granger focuses on learning skills quickly, Ruiz shows how bilingual approaches develop thinking abilities and mental flexibility that help students in all subjects.
In conclusion, even though Granger brings up important practical concerns, Ruiz’s position offers a better overall educational approach. Her method successfully balances the need for immediate English development with long-term academic and job advantages, creating a stronger base for good educational policy.
(398 words)
