Reasons to include Dual Language Texts in Classroom
Various Benefits for ELLs
Increase Self Esteem
Increase Confidence
Experience their Culture,
which makes them feel
that they belong in the school
Feel Welcomed
Feel Important
How we (Teachers) support parents with understanding the importance of a bilingual/multilingual student
As mentioned in the Webcast Dual Language Projects, we should arrange casual meets with parents and ask students to take the stage and showcase their creations like Poems or Stories or essays, etc.
We live in the era of Technology. With this progress technology has made, it is very easy to communicate with people around the globe even if they don't speak a common language. Use of Translators is the key to it. We can use these translators to communicate better with Parents, which will make them feel welcomed.
Referring to one of the strategy I suggested earlier to promote Dual Language, students can be asked to work in L1 and then translate it into English, this will let parents to contribute more towards their childrens' education.
Various Dual Language Strategies
Ask ELLs to write their assignments in their first language and then work on translating it into English with help of their classmates.
Option for ELLs to have Dual Language books. This not only helps them learn easily but will also help them to improve English, since they could easily relate to the stuff present in the book.
Give ELLs the freedom to express thoughts in their first language. They can even use Graphic Organizer for this purpose.
Creating a structured comparison of Numbers in their L1 and English. This will help ELLs to easily relate the numbers and help them build self confidence.
Referencing to Dual Language Projects by Elizabeth Coelho: We can try creating informational Posters in multiple languages, like creating a Poster for Health and Nutrition, we can reference common Food items like 'Bread' in multiple languages. Needless to say everybody eats Bread irrespective of their primary language or origin.