My niece is entering kindergarten next year, and her parents have decided to enroll her in a two-way language immersion program, where she will be taught from kindergarten through twelfth grade in both English and Spanish. In kindergarten children are taught in 90% Spanish and only 10% English. Each year the amount of English language instruction increases until instruction is 50% Spanish and 50% English.
I thought that this model of learning was very interesting and something that could be very beneficial for students, especially in ethnically diverse places such as Southern California.
The following video provides an example of a Spanish- English immersion program.
Explore the California Department of Education's web page regarding Language Immersion Program standards.
What do you think of this program? Do you know anyone who has experience in a program similar to the one in the video?
In what ways can it be beneficial? Harmful?
Do you think more schools should offer programs like the one above?
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I was really impressed with this video. I had no idea that there was a two-way immersion program because I have only heard of dual immersion programs for English language learners. However, I think that this is a great opportunity for children to become bilingual, especially with the growing number of Spanish speakers here in California. After viewing the video, the program looks like it would be very beneficial for students, and by teaching a second language so young, children would be able to learn much easier. I do not see any harmful side affects of a program like this one, and I do think that more schools should offer programs like this one. However, with the current economic crisis I do not see this happening in the near future.
ReplyDeleteI really like this program! I also didn't know anything like this existed, but I am really happy it does! It is good to immerse children at a young age into two languages, that will benefit them a lot in the future. I think its cool that they are started out with only 10 percent english and then work up from there.
ReplyDeleteI don't see any ways this program would be harmful. I am interested to see how their writing and reading skills develop in English and Spanish as they get older, compared to those who were taught only in English. I think it would be great if more programs like this were offered!