Proud to Share Language
"All of a sudden, you get a young kid that doesn't speak English proud to share with their English-speaking classmate their language, and when they teach each other languages they can learn much more quickly."- Juan Cabrera, El Paso ISD Superintendent
This week's reflection comes from an article published in the Community Impact Newspaper by Emma Whalen. Whalen presents the success of dual language programs in Austin Independent School District (ISD) in Austin, Texas as well as school districts in El Paso, Texas and Orange County, Florida. This foreign language model splits instruction time evenly between English and an additional language.
In the Austin ISD program, students participate in Two-Way Dual Language programs in Spanish and Vietnamese and One-Way Dual Language programs in Spanish at participating schools in the district. Two-Way Dual Language programs allow native speakers of Spanish, or another language, to take a class along with native English speakers and the two groups learn simultaneously (Whalen, 2018). One-Way Dual Language programs are recommended only for non-native English speakers but emphasize fluency in both the student's native language and English (Whalen, 2018).
The reason dual language programs have become a hot topic in education is because they help alleviate stigmas surrounding ESL classes and promote pride in learning languages. No longer are English learners separated or segregated from their peers, and learning a second language becomes a goal that all students are working toward. The Superintendents involved in the discussion in this particular article, emphasize the progress and positive outcomes dual language programs have had on their students.
There are challenges to implementing such programs, however. Districts need a significant amount of funding and teacher training programs to develop successful, thriving dual language programs. When properly implemented, there is no doubt that dual language programs promote bilingualism, biculturalism, and biliteracy (Whalen, 2018).
Whalen, E. (2018). SXSW panel: dual language programs in Austin ISD, other districts spur success for native, non-native English speakers. Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved from https://communityimpact.com/austin/central-austin/education/2018/03/07/sxsw-panel-dual-language-programs-austin-isd-districts-spur-success-native-non-native-english-speakers/
This week's reflection comes from an article published in the Community Impact Newspaper by Emma Whalen. Whalen presents the success of dual language programs in Austin Independent School District (ISD) in Austin, Texas as well as school districts in El Paso, Texas and Orange County, Florida. This foreign language model splits instruction time evenly between English and an additional language.
In the Austin ISD program, students participate in Two-Way Dual Language programs in Spanish and Vietnamese and One-Way Dual Language programs in Spanish at participating schools in the district. Two-Way Dual Language programs allow native speakers of Spanish, or another language, to take a class along with native English speakers and the two groups learn simultaneously (Whalen, 2018). One-Way Dual Language programs are recommended only for non-native English speakers but emphasize fluency in both the student's native language and English (Whalen, 2018).
The reason dual language programs have become a hot topic in education is because they help alleviate stigmas surrounding ESL classes and promote pride in learning languages. No longer are English learners separated or segregated from their peers, and learning a second language becomes a goal that all students are working toward. The Superintendents involved in the discussion in this particular article, emphasize the progress and positive outcomes dual language programs have had on their students.
There are challenges to implementing such programs, however. Districts need a significant amount of funding and teacher training programs to develop successful, thriving dual language programs. When properly implemented, there is no doubt that dual language programs promote bilingualism, biculturalism, and biliteracy (Whalen, 2018).
Whalen, E. (2018). SXSW panel: dual language programs in Austin ISD, other districts spur success for native, non-native English speakers. Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved from https://communityimpact.com/austin/central-austin/education/2018/03/07/sxsw-panel-dual-language-programs-austin-isd-districts-spur-success-native-non-native-english-speakers/
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