TENEISHA BAKER, CRISELDA CARMENATE, FRANCIS CRUZ, PAPA MBOUP AND MATTHEW PORRICELLI

DECEMBER 8, 2014

WHAT IS A DUAL LANGUAGE EDUCATION?

“DUAL LANGUAGE EDUCATION REFERS TO PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE INSTRUCTION THROUGH TWO LANGUAGES WITH THE GOAL OF PROMOTING FULL PROFICIENCY IN ORAL AND WRITTEN ASPECTS OF BOTH LANGUAGES, ALONG WITH CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND HIGH LEVELS OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.”

-HAMAYAN, GENESEE, AND CLOUD (2013)

• Oral and written proficiency• Higher academic achievement• Young bilingual children show more

flexibility in thinking, greater sensitivity to language, and a better ear for listening.

• Job opportunities are increased for careers in which knowing another language is an asset.

BENEFITS OF BEING BILINGUAL

DOS CAMINOS: DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM 2014-15: Full implementation of Kindergarten program with

two student cohorts.

2015-16: Current cohort progresses to dual language first grade classes and new Kindergarten cohorts are formed.

Commitment to continue program at least through middle school.

WHAT DOES A DUAL LANGUAGE COHORT LOOK LIKE? Kindergarten: 48 students (24 Native English

Speakers, 24 Native Spanish Speakers). Two way immersion – 50/50 split. Every other day students learn in either the

Spanish zone, or English zone. Instruction is built based on the previous lesson, in

the other language.

CROSS CULTURAL IMPORTANCE

The dual language experience is more than just learning through translation. Reading English books translated into Spanish will not place the necessary emphasis on cultural significance.

Sample “cultural” lesson through song.

Juanito Caundo Baila

TEACHING ACADEMIC LANGUAGE Conversation and academic language (Think

Google Translate) All students come in with a “clean slate” Tier 1 vocabulary vs. Tier 3 academic language

(this is one of the main reasons dual-language students thrive on ELA exams later on).

Sample lesson(s) that a cohort would experience that are based on translation.

ODDS AND ENDS… Be sure to pick up an application and return

by the deadline for September enrollment.