Dual language programs use two languages for literacy and content instruction for all students. In the United States, programs use English and a partner language, often Spanish. The programs provide the same academic content and address the same standards as other educational programs. And they provide instruction in the two languages over an extended period of time, from kindergarten through at least fifth grade. Instruction is in the partner language at least 50% of the time.
Two-way immersion, a kind of dual language education that combines students from two language groups for instruction in both of their languages, has been in existence for nearly 40 years, and its popularity has grown. During the first 20 years, the number of new programs remained relatively low. Only 30 programs were known to exist in the mid-1980s (Lindholm, 1987). Over the past 15 years, however, the number of programs has risen rapidly. Recently, 315 programs were documented (Center for Applied Linguistics, 2005). The majority of them are Spanish/English programs in public elementary schools.
Two-way immersion education: The
basics. (2005). In E. R. Howard, J. Sugarman, M. Perdomo, & C. T.
Adger. The two-way immersion toolkit. Washington, DC, and Providence,
RI: Center for Applied Linguistics and The Education Alliance at
Brown University. p. 167. Reproduced with permission.
http://www.alliance.brown.edu/pubs/twi/pdf_files/toolkit_all.pdf
