PBS is streaming the videos. The site offers a version with Spanish and a version with Chinese subtitles.
Thanks for posting the topic Brian.
With regards to progress made by English language learners in the programs, I have the following small case study:
We have boys in first grade and second. Both started in kindergarten classes made of 10 Spanish dominant children and 10 English dominant children. I talked with my boys on the way to school and asked them which kids were most bi-literate. Top 5 in both class came from Spanish dominant households. This is totally unofficial but perhaps a good guide. A few of the top students in English come from Spanish dominant households.My older kid can read in English great. For example, he is in the second grade and reads our subscription of National Geographic more than I do. There are a few Native Spanish speakers right there with him. He is a little slower with Spanish than his younger brother but is starting to flourish.
There is a tendency for kids to socialize along racial lines. They are just imitating their parents Hispanic or other wise who have no choice. They do come out of it much more quickly than if they were struggling in English only or some old school bilingual education environment exclusively comprised of one race or limguistic group. Makes sense too because they are sharing and experience with children from the dominant culture from day one.
All programs have problems and I am not the super defender of any of them. It does appear that some of the other posters on this thread are entrenched in something negative.
