Description: This book provides a social and educational perspective on contemporary English language learners, especially those large, fast-growing Hispanic and Asian groups whose presence is felt strongly in the schools. It is addressed to preservice and in-service teachers of English, whether in language arts, bilingual education, or English as a second language classrooms. Section One describes the make-up of previous generations of English language learners in the United States and provides current demographics on English language learners; it also examines the process whereby immigrants come to adopt English. Section Two provides teachers with information on the immigration background, language characteristics, and language use patterns of the most numerous groups of present-day English language learners. The third section explores three types of investment necessary for successful language learning -- individual investment, legal and policy investment, and educational investment.

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