July 3, 1918. United States Government. ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE PROCURED FROM AT 10 CENTS PER COPY LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF EDUCATION, SIR: Interest in teaching the English language to those who have come from non-English-speaking countries to make their home among us has increased to such an extent that a comprehensive bibliography of textbooks and other publications on this subject is very much needed. To meet this need I am transmitting herewith for publication as a bulletin of the Bureau of Education, under the title "Teaching English to Aliens," such a bibliography prepared by Dr. Winthrop Talbot at my request and with the cooperation of the Division of Immigrant Education in this bureau. Respectfully submitted, The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. P. P. CLAXTON, Commissioner, TEACHING ENGLISH TO ALIENS: A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF TEXTBOOKS, DICTIONARIES AND GLOSSARIES, AND AIDS TO LIBRARIANS. INTRODUCTION. The influx of foreign speaking peoples into the United States since 1900 to the beginning of the war numbered 13,000,000. After the war there will be resumption of immigration and again millions of non-English-speaking aliens will present further problems to teachers. One of the strongest bonds of Americanism is unity of language. The fact that in America is found the largest number of persons in any country who speak the same language is a power in itself for the spreading of the gospel of Americanism, namely, of individual opportunity in the service of all. It is with the purpose of making the teaching of English to foreigners easier for all who are engaged in the effort that this bibliography of textbooks and aids to teachers and librarians has been compiled. So gradually has the rapid flood of immigration crept upon us, and so varied and general have been the efforts to stem the tide of foreign speech, that even active workers in the field are scarcely aware of efforts that are made by coworkers. The numbers of textbooks have so multiplied to meet the varying needs presented by half a hundred races scattered in all localities throughout a continent and engaged in multifarious vocations and industries, each requiring special vocabularies, that there is need for listing the pedagogic instruments and aids which are available for selection and use. It has seemed best to include few publications issued prior to 1900. Exceptions have been made in cases in which the total literature is scant, and in those which present some special claim for perpetuation in meeting the new and difficult demands of modern teaching. It would be not only a thankless but Quixotic task to attempt to evaluate the texts herein listed. Just as no two classes of pupils present the same needs and no two teachers agree fully on the details. of teaching, so no two textbooks may properly be made the subject of comparison and criticism as to their relative worth. The effort in compiling this list has been to give the bibliographical data as fully as possible, and when practicable to add some descriptive comment in order that the educator might be enabled to select wisely and without undue effort the particular texts which would meet his special needs. In many cases texts prepared by foreigners for their compatriots present many points of superiority over texts prepared by Americans. "It is generally a waste of time for a literate person and especially those who have had a considerable amount of schooling in their own countries to use textbooks intended for illiterates, even though these illiterates be of their race. Textbooks prepared by Swedish and Norwegian writers recognize this fact. American writers of textbooks are apt to ignore it. It is interesting and enlightening to see the degree of prior schooling which is taken for granted by Scandinavian writers. The proper selection of textbooks is an important element in the success of evening school work. Many have succeeded with classes of clerks and business men and women because the textbooks were suited to persons who have already had considerable schooling. Conversely others have failed because the text employed is far too difficult for the unschooled pupils by whom it is used, or, perchance, because an inexperienced teacher has been led to regard the foreign adult in the same light as a child. The fact is that although limited in language and verbal resources the adult illiterate has generally a large and varied background of experience and the textbook which might be suited to the child's limited experience carries no message of value or interest to the richer intelligence of the adult. The subject of pedagogic method in teaching English to aliens is of much importance in attaining satisfactory results and a special division of titles has been made of books which deal with method as such. As a general thing the textbooks contain in their introductions helpful hints on method. A few examples have been sufficiently noteworthy to be listed. A division of this bibliography which may be of special help to librarians is a summary of "Aids to librarians," issued by various libraries and listed both after the general list of textbooks and in each racial division. These aids include also certain helpful lists issued by publishers and by social organizations. A feature which has presented no little difficulty in the matter of selection is the division of dictionaries and glossaries. Again in this instance it has seemed wise to omit in general the titles of volumes published before 1900. Owing to the fact that the subject of teaching English to aliens is rapidly demonstrating large economic value (if only in prevention of industrial accidents), we may anticipate the publication of many texts in the near future intended primarily for local use but possessing value enough to be of general interest. Even after exercising much diligence in following up elusive texts with the editorial net it is certain that many have remained uncap |