Dual Language and Multilingual Education
Dual language education is an effective program for developing language and content in two languages while students develop sociocultural competence.Â
The three pillars, or goals, of dual language education are the promotion ofÂ
- bilingualism and biliteracy,
- grade-level academic achievement in both languages, and Â
- sociocultural competence. Â
Students maintain their first language while adding a second language, and they develop pride in their own language and culture while developing an understanding of the cultures and traditions of others. Â
CAL provides professional development on a variety of topics related to effective dual language programming and instruction and conducts evaluations of dual language programs to improve effectiveness. CAL also provides technical support for developing new programs and for helping transitional programs convert to full-fledged dual language programs.Â
Dual Language Program Technical Support and EvaluationÂ
In addition to our professional development services, CAL has expertise and experience in providing long-term support for dual language programs. The process begins with district requests for review of their programs, which usually take the form of a needs assessment or evaluation to allow us to tailor our technical assistance and professional development to most effectively meet the needs of districts and schools. CAL provides longer term support to DL districts in the following categories:Â
- Districts that are embarking on the journey to develop dual language programsÂ
- Districts that have been in existence for many years but are looking to enhance their programsÂ
- Districts that have had early or late exit transitional programs and want to transform those programs to fully dual language programs.Â
In each of these scenarios, a needs assessment/evaluation is conducted, a strategic plan is created for development, enhancement, or transformation by the district with stakeholder input and with guidance from CAL, and the strategic plan is implemented. Usually, professional development (training and job-embedded coaching) from CAL begins before the strategic plan is finalized.
Services
Drawing on its decades of research in language education, CAL offers services to schools and districts that are planning or implementing bilingual, dual language, or two-way immersion (TWI) programs. All of our services are rooted in research-based tools and approaches, and are tailored to your needs. CAL offers professional development on the critical issues facing educators in dual language education settings. CAL can help develop or refine a dual language program by working with key stakeholders in a collaborative environment. Evaluation services can be tailored to your program’s needs with a wide range of evaluation approaches including quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods. Contact CAL to discuss your interests.
Institutes: Professional Development Opportunities in Washington, DC Metro Area
CAL offers four institutes of special interest for educators interested in dual language education.
- CAL SIOP for Dual Language Programs: Developing Academic Language & Content in Two Languages:Â This institute is designed to help participants develop and deliver CAL SIOP Model lessons in bilingual programs. No prior knowledge of the SIOP Model is required for participation.
- Foundations of Dual Language Instruction:Â This institute introduces practitioners to the research base for effective dual language instruction with a focus on practical applications for classroom use. Strategies and hands-on activities will be shared that promote student interaction to build receptive and productive language skills in two languages while building content knowledge in order to develop bilingualism, biliteracy, and multicultural competence.
- Leading Dual Language Programs for Student Success: A CAL Leadership Institute:Â This institute is designed to help educators strengthen their leadership by gaining a solid understanding of the benefits of dual language education and learning how they can develop an effective dual language program that promotes student success on their campus.
- Spanish Literacy Institute:Â Each two-day Spanish Literacy institute is designed to provide participants with effective methodologies for teaching academic language and literacy in Spanish to students in a wide variety of K-8 educational setting where Spanish is the language of instruction. Classroom practices are framed by an understanding of Spanish language arts standards and linguistic features in Spanish.
Learn more about these institutes and view our full calendar.
National Dual Language Forum (NDLF)
CAL is proud to be a member organization of the National Dual Language Forum (NDLF). You may link to the NDLF website here:
Projects
Funder: DLME provided professional development to partner DL teachers in Coppell Independent School District on Spanish language and literacy development and instruction at the request of two administrators who participated in ... Read more
Funder: DLME conducted an evaluation of the district’s dual language program and professional development services to teachers on Spanish language and literacy instruction based on the evaluation’s recommendations.Â
Funder: DLME conducted an evaluation of a Spanish Immersion dual language program to assess alignment of the program with research and best practices and provide recommendations for improvement as needed.Â
Funder: DLME conducted a research project to document characteristics of dual language education in two high achieving programs selected based on longitudinal analysis of student achievement data in the two program ... Read more
Funder: DLME conducted an evaluation of the K-8 dual language program in the district to assess alignment of the program with research and best practices and provide recommendations for strategic planning ... Read more
Funder: DLME developed agendas and provided presentations to district-stakeholder committee on determining the feasibility of dual language implementation in the district.Â
Funder: DLME completed an evaluation of policies and practices related to effectively educating English learners (ELs) across program models for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS).Â
Funder: DLME conducted an evaluation of a single DL school to inform improvement and possible district expansionÂ
Funder: DLME conducted a district level review of 5 elementary DL program schools to inform district-level support for expansion of DL programsÂ
Funder: DLME conducted a comprehensive evaluation of services for English learners districtwide served in English as second language and dual language programsÂ
Funder: DLME conducted focus groups with parents and teachers of Spanish-speaking emergent bilingual students in Florida, California and Illinois to capture their voices in a brief and create a guide for ... Read more
Funder: CAL conducted an in-depth review of the dual language, biliteracy curriculum in use in ACPS for grades K-2. The evaluation included sites visits to the dual language schools to observe ... Read more
Funder: DLME conducted a needs assessment of dual language immersion and transitional bilingual programs in 2020.The needs assessment has led to CAL’s facilitation of the development of a strategic plan for ... Read more
Funder: DLME conducted two comprehensive evaluations: one of dual immersion and one of transitional bilingual programs in the district, and has entered its fourth year (2021-2022)Â of providing extensive TA and PD ... Read more
Funder: International Research & Studies, U.S. Department of Education
Funder: Oregon State Department of Education
Funder: Illinois Resource Center
News and Resources
Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education has been used for over a decade by dual language programs and educators across the United States as an effective tool for planning, self-reflection, and continual improvement.
Editors:Â M. Beatriz Arias and Molly Fee
Published by Multilingual Matters
Barbara Kennedy & Jose Medina, Center for Applied Linguistics
September 2017
