Building Opportunity through Dual Language - Podcast Episode 106

Building Opportunity through Dual Language – Podcast Episode 106 | Classnotes Podcast 106

Classnotes Podcast (April 30, 2012) Public schools have an obligation to provide an equitable and excellent education to students who speak a language other than English. Several decades of research and experience have shown that bilingual education is the best way to teach a student English while also teaching other subjects, like math and science. Dual language programs are a powerful type of bilingual education that serves English learners and English speakers with the goal of biliteracy. Adela Solís, Ph.D., discusses the growth of dual language programs across the country and important factors that must be in place. Adela is interviewed by Bradley Scott, Ph.D., director of the IDRA South Central Collaborative for Equity.

Show length: 14:56

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Resources

Two-Way Dual Language Immersion Programs
Kristin Grayson, M.Ed., IDRA Newsletter
http://www.idra.org/resource-center/two-way-dual-language-immersion-programs/

Teaching Spanish in Texas Schools – The Spanish Language Arts and Reading (SLAR), Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and Other Resources for Teachers of Spanish (pdf)
Adela Solís, Ph.D., IDRA
http://www.idra.org/images/stories/Teaching_Spanish_in_Texas_Schools.pdf

National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition
http://www.ncela.us/

¡Colorín Colorado!
Has both a Spanish and English site (Great resources for teachers and parents)
http://www.colorincolorado.org/

Educating English Learners for a Transformed World
By Virginia P. Collier
http://www.amazon.com/Educating-English-Learners-Transformed-World/dp/0984316906

Dual Language Education: A Promising 50–50 Model
By Leo Gómeza, David Freemana & Yvonne Freeman
Bilingual Research Journal: The Journal of the National Association for Bilingual Education
Volume 29, Issue 1, 2005
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15235882.2005.10162828

National Association for Bilingual Education.
http://www.nabe.org/

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Show Notes

Adela offers an overview of bilingual education in the United States and explains its two main types of programs: transitional bilingual education (TBE) and dual language bilingual education.

Adela talks about the popularity of dual language programs and why they are so “enviable."

From an equity perspective, Adela considers whether the prevalent model of dual language programs serves the needs of all children, and particularly English language learners.

Adela talks about giving students and parents the full range of options for participation in the bilingual programs in their district, whether dual language, TBE, or both.

Adela notes a recent article and list of resources she published around instruction of Spanish in dual language and TBE classrooms, with a focus on recognizing and embracing the uniqueness of the Spanish language.

Resource Center