Hello,
I am PJ, and I'm an English Teacher in El Paso. I have been working with ESL students for about 7 years now (ever since I began teaching). In my mainstream classroom, I work with a number of students who are exited from the ESL program. Here in Texas, that now means only two years of sheltered instruction. That's not much for learning a new language. Here in El Paso there is also the unique situation whereby students don't really have to speak or practice English. Between the very high number of bilingual speakers in the retail industries, parents not speaking any English at home, and friends who are all too willing to speak to students in Spanish, the imputus to learn English is not highly valued in the city.

You can imagine the results in terms of passing standardized exams after only 2 years with exposure and classroom only exposure to the language.

In my own experience in teaching writing, there have been many, many times when I have encouraged students to write their drafts in Spanish, English, or full code-switching Spanglish if they are so inclined... Anything to get them to begin writing!

There are so many facets to this inquiry: Is Code-Switching a legitimate language? Should it be encouraged as a way to get students into the core of language acquisition? When do you need to step in to encourage standard English in order to ensure the success of the student?

From where I sit, the connection of failure to fully learn English to the success of a student in school is overwhelming. That further connection, too often, is the sub-cultures of failure and poverty. All too often it's a cycle that can only be broken by the commitment (and sometimes the linguistic briliance) of the student to succeed.