Survey: What kind of language acquisition program do you have?
You can download power point of this survey (below) or review the survey here.
Download PowerPoint PDF
Teaching for Biliteracy and the Bridge are flexible frameworks that can be used in a variety of language acquisition program models, including 80/20 dual language programs and transitional bilingual programs. Because there are differences in the way terms and labels are used, we prefer to look at programs based on their programmatic elements, rather than their labels.
This quick survey will help look at your program. For each numbered item, choose either the descriptor in column A or in column B.
1. Language and literacy development
| A. The goal of the program is high levels of bilingualism and biliteracy for all students in the program | B. The goal of the program is high levels of English proficiency and English literacy for students in the program. |
2. Duration of instruction in the Spanish
| A. Instruction in Spanish begins in Kinder (or Pre-K) for all students, and continues through at least 5th grade. | B. Instruction in Spanish language is for a limited amount of time. |
3. Quantity of instruction in Spanish
| A. All students receive at least 50% of their daily instruction in Spanish. | B. Students received progressively fewer instructional minutes in Spanish with each year in the program, with the goal being English-only instruction. |
4. Entering students into the program
| A. At the Pre-K and Kindergarten level, the program is open to all students. This results in a program that includes students with a wide range of linguistic proficiencies and academic abilities. | B. This program is only open to students with a very specific linguistic profile, and students are exited from the program when they no longer fit that profile. |
Results
If you mostly chose A, your program looks more like a dual language program. Some other names for dual language programs are: one-way immersion, two-way immersion, and developmental or maintenance bilingual programs.
Teaching for Biliteracy and the Bridge, including simultaneous biliteracy instruction, is well-fitted for and can be implemented in all types of dual language programs: 80/20 programs and 50/50 programs; one-way immersion and two-way immersion, developmental and maintenance bilingual programs.
You can find out more information about dual language programs, and the different labels used throughout the United States, here:
- Center for Applied Linguistics:
http://www.cal.org/twi/ - Dual Language Education of New Mexico:
- National Dual Language Consortium:
http://www.dual-language.org/
If you mostly circled B, your program looks more like a transitional bilingual program.
Teaching for Biliteracy and the Bridge, including simultaneous biliteracy instruction, is well-fitted for and can be implemented in all types of transitional bilingual programs.
Some other names for these kinds of programs are early exit bilingual or late exit bilingual education. You can find out more about transitional bilingual education, and other language acquisition models, here:
Click below for an additional resource comparing language education programs in the United States:
Language Programs Comparison Chart-Beeman and Urow