Focusing on the lives and experiences of four Mexican children in an American middle school, the critically acclaimed author of Con Respeto examines both the policy and the instructional dilemmas that surround the English language education of immigrant children in this country. Using samples and analysis of the children’s oral and written language as well as an examination of their classrooms, school, and community, this book addresses the difficulties surrounding the teaching and learning of English for second language learners. This comprehensive volume discusses; classroom activities; the amount of time it takes to "learn" English; how English language learning affects learning in other areas; the consequences of linguistic isolation; and how ESL students are tested. It also presents exclusive data on academic English development at various stages in a two-year process that raise important questions about current ESL teaching policies.