To Sí or Not to Sí?

In many schools around the nation students beginning in Kindergarten are being exposed to a second language. One of the ways second language acquisition is obtain is through a Dual Language Program which we are fortunate to offer in Wylie ISD. Dual Language in our district exposes English native speakers to Spanish and Spanish native speakers to English. The initial goal is to produce students that are comfortable speaking in one language as they are in the other. However, the ultimate goal is for these students to be able to acquire academic language and perform academically in either language, thus opening the doors for them to study abroad.

Dual Language students also become familiar with a different culture than their own and learn to navigate between cultures. Research proves that children exposed to foreign languages display a greater understanding of our country’s relationship to foreign cultures. They also reveal a heightened sensitivity to racial diversity issues.

Researchers such as Collier have been able to confirm that it takes approximately five to seven years to acquire academic language which is taught on a daily basis through content.  This is one of the great giants we need face in Dual Language and why I am so passionate about it. Being able to command academic language is very different than being able to converse in another language.  Our students work very hard every day to not only understand and communicate in a language that is not their own as well as learn content.

Dual Language is a process and the earlier we begin the process the easier it becomes.

 Learning more than Inglés is as easy as uno, dos, tres. But experts say that starting early es muy importante.