Two-Way Dual Immersion:

From Theory to Practice

Veronika Lopez-Mendez, vlopez-mendez@sandi.net

Two-Way Bilingual Immersion blends two language education models: an immersion program for English-only speakers and a bilingual maintenance model for English

learners. Students from the two language groups attend class together, learning from

one another and supporting each other's second language acquisition. Both groups

of students develop linguistic and academic competence in two languages: their native

language and one more.

What is Two-Way Immersion?

Students will develop high levels of proficiency in their primary language and a second language.

Academic performance for both groups of students will be at or above grade level.

All students will demonstrate positive cross-cultural attitudes and behaviors.

Goals of Two-Way Bilingual Immersion

Students add a second language to their first- Additive Bilingual Model ◦ L1 + L2 = Bilingual

High levels of bilingual proficiency Bilingual – read and write at or

above grade level in TWO languages!!

Achievement in content areas (math, science, social studies) at or above grade level

Multicultural competencies

Benefits of Two-Way Immersion

Students work as language partners/ triads The partner language and English are used

equally throughout the program Content is separated by language Builds literacy skills in English and Spanish Students take their L1 knowledge and

transfer it to the L2

50:50 Model at Work

Requires that teachers model and use visual meaning making in both language

Language is always academic Spanish/English is used as the language to

deliver content Strong phonemic awareness instruction will

move across languages English and Spanish reading is explicitly

taught Teachers model language and sets

expectations for language use

Instructional Delivery

Language rich instruction Phonemic awareness and phonics are

taught and built upon throughout the day The classroom environment is one that

teaches and supports

What does support look like?

Classroom supports

What supports does this chart provide?

Is this a chart that teaches? ORIs it a chart that represents the learning?

Language Supports Across the Curriculum

Setting the objective Language demands

Supports for Non-fiction Text

Language experience Big idea- supporting details

Word Study Supports

Academic Language supports for discussing stories and characters

• Support meaning making

• Build vocabulary• Common

experiences are used within oral language study

Non-Fiction Supports to Build Academic Language

Guided Supports for Language •Guided writing experience supports language development

•Labels build vocabulary

•Instruction is linked to independent practice

Application to Writing