Dual Language Educational Program English Spanish

Important notes:

An important factor in Dual Language Education is an effective separation of the two languages. To be successful, students need a clear separation between English and the minority language or there is the danger students will begin code switching. This term means that students begin using both languages within the same sentence (Spanglish). We often see this happen in families or with co-workers who are fluent in two or more languages. People most often say the easiest words in either of the two languages in order to convey their thought.

The goal of our program is that students will become fluent in both languages. If a student regularly practices code switching, there is a good chance he/she will not become proficient in either language. There are several ways schools can separate the languages.

• By Time Languages can be divided by anything from half days to semesters or even years.
• By Teacher For each group of students there could be a team of two teachers. One would only speak in English; the other would only use the minority language in our case Spanish.
• By Subject Certain content areas are taught in one language or the other. For instance, math may always be in English whereas science would always be taught in the minority language.
• By Medium of Activity This one is slightly more complicated and would be better for older students who are becoming very fluent in both languages. In this form of separation the lesson and class discussion would be presented in one language and then the follow-up activities (possibly a written assignment) would be assigned in the other language. It is very important that reversal of which language is used occurs regularly. You would not want to use one language for oral language development and another for literacy.

The Balanced Language Program (50:50)

The 50:50 model is also known as a Balanced Language Program, reflecting the fact that the two languages are evenly balanced. In this model, students receive half of their instruction in English and the other half in the target language throughout all the elementary years.

Sample Program

Our program includes a Spanish-speaking teacher and an English-speaking teacher in every classroom, grades K through 6. English and Spanish are used in approximately equal proportions with students mixed heterogeneously throughout the day. Each subject is taught in both English and Spanish, but not concurrently. Students are taught initial literacy in English and Spanish at the same time. By the middle of first grade they are reading in both languages. By the third grade children are reading two years above national norms in English. Parental support is essential in a Dual Language Educational Program.

Why and How Should My Child Benefit of a Dual Language Educational Program?

A great deal of media attention has recently been focused on the significance of early learning experiences on brain development. During the first 5 years of a child's life there is a "window of opportunity" for second language learning starting at 1 year of age. Many experts in early childhood have suggested that foreign languages should be taught to children as early as possible.

Becoming bi-literate gives children a lifelong ability to communicate with more people. Children may obtain other benefits from early dual language education, including enhanced overall school performance and improve problem-solving skills. Ultimately becoming bi-literate provides a competitive advantage in the workforce by opening up additional job opportunities.

Students of foreign languages score statistically higher on standardized tests conducted in English. Students who averaged 4 or more years of foreign language study scored higher on the verbal section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) than those who had studied 4 or more years in any other subject area as initially reported and supported by the 1992 Profile of SAT and Achievement Test Takers report.

Studies have also revealed and experience has shown that children who learn a second language before the adolescence years have a higher chance to achieve a native-like pronunciation. But whatever the case may be, introducing children to another language and to different cultures allows the child to reach new horizons, expands their outlook and gives them the opportunity to communicate with many more people.

A Dual Language Program allows children to spend part or all of the school day learning in a second language. In most cases languages arts and mathematics in English is presented in the morning hours and in the afternoon mathematics, social studies and science is presented in the second language. The goal of a Dual Language Program is to use the second language as the medium for content instruction rather than the subject of instruction. Children enrolled in dual language program work towards full proficiency in the second language.

Young people proficient in a second language have access to a greater number of career possibilities and develop a better understanding of their own and other cultures. Some evidence also suggests that children who receive second language instruction are more creative and better at solving complex problems. The benefits to society are many. Americans fluent in other languages enhance our economic competitiveness abroad, improve global communication, and maintain our political and security interests.

A final advise to those families that have children attending a Dual Language school is to encourage your child's interest in the second language and it’s culture. Showing your child that you value the ability to speak a second language, attending cultural events that feature music, dance, or food from the country or countries where the language is spoken, buying books and other materials in the second language, and if you are familiar with the language yourself, read to your child.

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