Students in dual language programs are presented with the social and cognitive benefits of bilingualism. They gain a second language, a broader vocabulary, and multiple views of the world.(Cazabon, Lambert, & Heise-Baigorria, 2002).
In order to acquire these benefits, the program sets out to accomplish the following goals:
- Develop bilingualism, biliteracy, and biculturalism
- Achieve grade level academic performance in Spanish and English
- Develop positive cross-cultural attitudes and behaviors
- Develop high levels of academic proficiency in Spanish and English
Benefits of the program
- Develop bilingualism, biliteracy, and biculturalism
- Achieve grade level academic performance in Spanish and English
- Develop positive cross-cultural attitudes and behaviors
- Develop high levels of academic proficiency in Spanish and English
- Children will be more competitive in the global economy.
- Children develop an understanding of the different cultures living side by side in Salinas.
- Cognitive advantages and collaboration and cooperative skills
- Students earn awards such as the Seal of Biliteracy Pathway at Grade 6 - a Medallion and, at high school, the Seal of Biliteracy.
Bilingualism not only enhances cognitive development, it also increases multicultural understanding and expands educational and professional prospects. Whether students choose to engage in global opportunities or contribute to their own communities closer to home, all benefit from the bilingualism, bi-literacy and expanded multicultural perspectives that dual language programs provide.
Our Research
Multiple benefits exist for acquiring a second language during the primary years. Some of the benefits of learning a second language during the elementary years include:
- Children have the ability to learn and excel in the pronunciation of a foreign language (Krashen, et al., 1982);
- Participation in early foreign language shows positive results in areas of standardized testing (Armstrong & Rogers, 1997) Children who had studied a foreign language show greater cognitive development (Hakuta, 1990);
- Foreign language study has shown to increase listening skills, memory, and a greater understanding of one’s own language (Lapkin, et al., 1990);
- Children studying foreign languages have an improved self-concept and sense of achievement in school (Caine & Caine, 1997);
- Children develop a sense of cultural pluralism, openness and appreciation of other cultures (Met, 1995).