How to Choose a Bilingual Education

What is bilingual education?

Students receive instruction in more than one language, but the degree to which the two (or more) instructional languages are utilized, and the structure of the programs differ greatly.

Available language education options…

English-Only (Submersion) Programs: Students placed in an English-speaking classroom with native English speakers, regardless of the student’s level of proficiency in English. Students are expected to learn the content of the material taught in English.

English as a Second Language (ESL) or Sheltered English Programs: Non-English speaking students are placed in English-speaking classrooms for part of the day. The other part of the day the students are in a classroom with a trained ESL instructor, where they receive individual and concentrated instruction on the learning of English.

Traditional Bilingual Programs: Students are instructed in various subjects in their native language with the goal of transitioning to a second language as quickly as possible, although bilingualism may not necessarily be the goal.

Dual-Immersion Programs: Fluent or native speakers of two different languages are placed in the same classroom and instructed in both languages alternately. The goal is for both groups of speakers to become proficient in the other language.

Other Info:

Center for Applied Linguistics