Benefits to Supporting Dual Language and Multilingual Approaches

Students

Known experiences provides reassurance, in which students are more accessible to acquire new skills and concepts

Develop proficiency in their first language while learning English helps them academically and socially because knowledge about concepts and language skills are transferrable

They can preserve family ties, cultural backgrounds and sense of their identity

Develop mental flexibility, build problem solving skills, experience a sense of cultural stability and continuity

Understand their own cultural and family values

Develop an awareness and value of cultural diversity and multiple perspectives

Expand their career options

Dual Language Strategies

Design a bilingual advertisement to attract visitors to a country

Working with same-language partners who discuss a problem and clarify information in the first language before translating it into English

Creating multilingual displays or signs

Writing notes, journal entries in your dominant language

Providing bilingual support: Room partners, cross-grade tutors, same- language partners for think, pair, share activities

Create dual-language books, display/read dual language books

Develop learning activities that take advantage of the first languages spoken in class (compare letters, numbers, objects)

Participating in role plays, puppet shows, movies (visual)

Teachers Supporting Parents

inviting them to a Meet and Greet

Open and ongoing dialogue about students progress (in person, phone calls, emails, communication book)

Providing websites for information and suggesting activities children can do at home to continue to practice their English skills

Inviting parents to the classroom and engaging in activities

Watching role plays, puppet shows, presentations

Guest speaker to read a dual language book, share about their culture, traditions, child-parent activities

Use simple vocabulary

Speak clearly and pause during sentences

Say the same thing in different ways

Use visuals (images, objects), gestures and body language to display information

Check in with students on their level of understanding and progress

Modify tasks

Give students more time to process questions and responses

Parents

Preserve family ties, cultural background

Develop an awareness and value of cultural diversity and multiple perspectives

Ongoing and open dialogue with their child's teacher about learning progress and achievement

Feel welcomed, accepted and safe their children are integrated successfully

Join the Parent Committee at your child's school to get involved and to have diverse opinions, ideas, perspectives

Teachers

Promote positive attitudes towards language learning among all students

Create a positive, welcoming and safe environment for all your students

Enriched with knowledge, new experiences and cultural awareness

Celebrate diversity by providing opportunities for students to share information about their language, cultures and experiences

Have one-on-one interactions and take time to build a positive rapport

Pronounce names correctly and talk about their background and family

Develop language policies and organize the curriculum and instruction to emphasize cultural, linguistic and intellectual capital of our society

Students

Have a safe space to enhance their development of English language proficiency

Builds sense of identity, self-confidence and feel proud of their culturally diverse backgrounds

Gain a deeper understanding of language and how to use it effectively when they continue to develop their ability in 2 or more languages

Supportive Language-learning
Environment

Review

Tasks are appropriate to the student's level of achievement

Give English language learners positive feedback on their efforts

Engage all students in activities that pertain to their interests and build on their prior knowledge, skills and backgrounds

Space is flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the students