Dual Immersion Research Blog

Two-Way Dual Immersion - What is it?
Two-way immersion programs take place in schools where half the population is fluent in English, and learning the new target language, while the other half are native speakers of the target language, learning English. These programs take place in all subjects, not just English and foreign language. This means that students will be learning subjects like science in two languages, helping them learn in a more realistic setting. Meshing two groups of students who speak different languages together in a classroom helps because the students can work together to support one another's learning. They are able to offer their advice in situations that might not normally occur.

A video on Two-Way Dual Immersion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-TMa8ZObl4

Why?
There are two kinds of dual immersion, the other form being one-way immersion. In one-way immersion programs, none of the students have prior experience with the target language. I chose two-way immersion, because I feel as though the students will benefit more from working together, rather than depending on the teacher for all of the new information. In addition to student help, there will be two teachers in the classroom as well. One will be certified to teach in English, and the other, in my scenario, will be licensed in Spanish. All of this available help fosters a healthy and collaborative learning environment. However, you cannot lose with dual immersion. Whichever form you choose, there will be numerous benefits.


The Windom Dual Immersion School has shown that this program allows students to think differently, recognize patterns, and raises their ability to problem solve. Studies have also shown that bilingual speakers have enhanced metalinguistic awareness levels, making them very skilled in manipulating language. This ability is extremely useful.
Additionally, the following are benefits of dual immersion at the middle level (from North Clackamas Schools:

1. Development of the second language at a higher level
2. Growth in academic achievement 
3. Being part of a learning environment that is inclusive through its celebration of diversity and cultural awareness

Dual immersion can also serve as a solution for minimizing the achievement gap. It has been proven that students who speak a native language different than English at home will not succeed in subjects like reading and writing, while native English speakers do. Furthermore, they will be more likely to not graduate from high school and will be more likely to not attend college. However, if they participate in a dual immersion program, their academic success can be altered significantly. In one study, dual immersion students were shown to be seven months ahead in their fifth grade reading skills, and ahead by nine months in eighth grade. Additionally, the English language learners will "Acquire strong literacy skills in Spanish which can then be applied to the acquisition of English literacy"       (Windom Dual Immersion School “Benefits of Dual Immersion.” ) This sets them far ahead and makes them more likely to succeed.

Quotes from a study done on eighth grade immersion students:

"Aside from several spelling errors that were fairly common among her classmates... and a lack of diacritic marks, her writing was perfectly comprehensible and able to convey humor" (Potowski, Kim. Language and Identity in a Dual Immersion School, Multilingual Matters, 2007. Pg 180)

"Carolina's grammatical accuracy was the highest of all four focal students, scoring above the 1.1 mean on four of the five elicited forms" (Potowski, Kim. Language and Identity in a Dual Immersion School, Multilingual Matters, 2007. Pg 180)

Link to Spanish Immersion in a Middle School: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-1uaUDMTZI

***These 6th grade students are using the imperfect and preterite tenses - tenses most students don't learn until high school!

Note however, that dual immersion students succeed in more areas than academics, too. One mother spoke about her son's experience at a dual immersion school, and how he was influenced. Being in a dual immersion school allowed him to see the big picture, and he was able to understand diversity in all ways; among socioeconomic status, race, and culture. In his school, which was split between native English and native Spanish speakers, this individual recognized the school's effort to make kids comfortable with their cultural identities.

Lastly, dual immersion backs you up in the worst case scenarios. A bilingual person has a very strong brain from knowing 2 languages. Due to this strength in certain sections of the brain, it is easier for bilinguals to recover from brain injuries. In addition, it can delay the onset of Alzheimer's and dementia. While this may not be the happiest topic to discuss, it is extremely impressive.

When should we start?
As soon as possible! It's true what they say about kids brains being sponges - they learn so fast! Sure, my program would be implemented into a middle school, where it would succeed, but why not start earlier? Not only will it be easier for a child to learn a language at a younger age, but it will prove to have even more benefits later on. If your child is enrolled in a dual immersion elementary school, it is crucial to continue that form of teaching to retain knowledge. For example, for students leaving Mistral Elementary, a dual immersion school in California, parents fear their children's success in middle level education. The students enroll in Crittenden and Graham middle schools after Mistral, neither of which incorporate dual immersion programs. Parents are taking a stand to try and convince administration to add it into the curriculum. One parent, Trish Gilbert, who took measures as far as teaching immersion classes to students within her home, stated: "'It's a disservice to all the kids (who) could benefit from continuing their bilingual education'" (Forestieri, K, 2017). If formerly dual immersion students are not supplied with these courses at the middle level, their skills will diminish. However, if more courses are offered, they will flourish due to the abundant amount of new material covered in middle school. This information serves to prepare students for high school, so it is more advanced than the introductory information relayed in elementary environments. 




Sources:American Councils for International Education “WHY THE DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION APPROACH WILL CHANGE ACHIEVEMENT IN AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.” American Councils for International Education, www.americancouncils.org/news/why-dual-language-immersion-approach-will-change-achievement-american-public-schools.

Language and Identity in a Dual Immersion School

Potowski, Kim. Language and Identity in a Dual Immersion School, Multilingual Matters, 2007. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/smcvt/detail.action?docID=282690.

Mountain View Voice
Forestieri, Kevin. Bilingual Students Miss Out in Middle School, Mountain View Voice, 2017. https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2017/11/28/bilingual-students-miss-out-in-middle-school

North Clackamas Schools
Middle and High School Dual Language Immersion Information, North Clackamas Schools. http://www.nclack.k12.or.us/instructional/page/middle-and-high-school-dual-language-immersion-information

School District of Beloit

“Dual Language Immersion Programs.” School District of Beloit News, 19 Aug. 2013, beloitschools.org/dual-language-immersion-programs/.

The Unique Skills and Traits of Principals in One-Way and Two-Way Dual Immersion Schools

Rocque, Ryan, et al. “The Unique Skills and Traits of Principals in One-Way and Two-Way Dual Immersion Schools.” EBSCO Discovery Service, 1 Dec. 2016

Windom Dual Immersion School “Benefits of Dual Immersion.” Windom Dual Immersion School, windom.mpls.k12.mn.us/benefits_of_spanish_dual_immersion.