Participation of Adults in English as a Second Language Classes: 1994-95

摘要

While historically the United States has been a 'nation of immigrants,' in recent years the population has become increasingly diverse in language and culture as a result of additional immigration, the resettlement of refugees from other nations, and differential birthrates in the sector of the population speaking languages other than English (Crandall 1993). Chisman (1989) attributes the rapid growth in the language-minority population, in large part, to higher birth rates in families where English is not the primary language and to increases in the immigrant population, particularly among persons of Latino or Asian origin. According to the 1990 Census, there were approximately 25.5 million adults (age 18 and older) in the U.S. who reported speaking a language other than English at home;1 these people are considered to be language-minority adults. This estimate is up significantly from previous years -- an increase of 7.6 million adults since 1980.