Types of Bilingual Education Programs

Types of Bilingual Education Program

Bilingual education: Information is presented to the students in more than one language. Many educational systems and programs are bilingual in some sense, but the degree to which the two (or more) instructional languages are utilized and the structure of the programs differ greatly.

*Submersion: Student is placed in an English-speaking classroom with native English speakers, regardless of the student's level of proficiency in English. The student is expected to learn the content of the material taught in English, even though he or she may still be learning the language. This is not technically ‘bilingual education', as the material is presented in only one language (English).

*Two-way bilingual education: Fluent or native speakers of both English and another language are placed in the same classroom and instructed in both languages alternately. The goal is for both groups of speakers to become fluent in the other language. This form of education is most effective if implemented for a period of several years or more.

*English as a Second Language (ESL): 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. The students are held responsible for the content taught in the English-speaking courses they take.

*Immersion: Students are instructed in a foreign language for entire school day. Immersion programs differ from submersion programs in that immersion is usually designed to teach "majority language speakers" (standard English speakers, in this case) a foreign language. Most of the students who are able to participate in such a program are of higher socioeconomic status, and always participate voluntarily. Such programs tend to be very effective in fostering bilingualism in its students.

*Three language system: Students are initially educated in an official state language. A second language, an official language of the Union, is introduced after approximately two years. After another several years, a third language, "any Modern Indian Language" not already taught, is introduced academically. At the conclusion of the child's education, he or she will be proficient (if not fluent) in at least three languages. However, the system does not "provide a place for such mother tongues that are different from the Regional Languages", though more languages are represented in this program.



Source:
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/370blinged/different_types_of_bilingual_education