A Truly Bilingual Program That Works Both Ways

PSJA bilingual program recognized

When I read this article today, I just had to share. Finally, a school district that gets it. They are offering dual language classes from elementary up. The students that graduate from this program are fully bilingual and ready to face the challenges of the world better than most American students.

Right now the program is in English and Spanish. They want to add a third language the program has been so successful.

Kudos to the creators of this program. I really hope more school districts adopt it.

What are your thoughts?

posted by Joy Delgado
We go Beyond Reading
Laughing Zebra – Books for Children
Check out what’s going on at the zoo!
Zooprise Party / Fiesta Zoorpresa blog

Bilingual Crossword Puzzles

When I was creating my activity book to go with "Zooprise Party/Fiesta Zoorpresa", I wanted to include crossword puzzles. they are great learning tools. But how could one be made bilingual?

I could have made two puzzles, one in English and one in Spanish, but that didn't feel to me like it would teach which ever was the second language very well. Then I came up with the idea of having the clues in one language and the answer in the other language. Teachers really liked this idea saying they'd never seen it before.

Have a look at one I have in my activity book and then download it and try it yourself.

Have fun!

Loooking for more bilingual fun, hop over to my bookstore and pick up your copies today. They make great Christmas gifts and throw in a bit of learning at the same time.

Language Magazine - The Journal of Communication and Education

In my Google Alerts for 'bilingual education' today I found a website that intrigues me. Language Magazine. It's a well put together site for world languages.

The home page article grabbed my attention. Two is Always More Than One talks about language and the educational system in America. Read it and see what you think.

Throughout the site you can learn about the countires where English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Italian, German and Arabic are spoken. Study abroad and travel opportunities are available as well as an understanding of where the languages originated and it's use world wide.

If you're a teacher and interested in teaching abroad, this might be the place you'll find your next teaching adventure.

Check out Language Magazine. I think you'll find it interesting too.

posted by Joy Delgado

We go Beyond Reading

Laughing Zebra – Books for Children

Check out what’s going on at the zoo!

Zooprise Party / Fiesta Zoorpresa blog

Bilingual Friday: Learn Spanish for Kids

If you're looking for a web site that will help you look at many options for helping your children learn Spanish, Learn Spanish for Kids is a good place to start.

The creator of this site has done his reseach. He starts you off with online Spanish lessons. He has links to many sites as well as tips and insight for learning and teaching Spanish.

He shares the best ways to learn Spanish with several links and encourages parents to learn Spanish as well with suggestions for the best ways to learn Spanish.

So, what's your favorite site about learning a second or even a third language? Send them to me and I'll share them in a future Biligual Day posting.

Immersion Teaching - What do you think?

In looking around the internet for information on the different approaches to teaching children other languages, I came across this video.



What do you think? I'd love to hear your opinions on immersion education.

posted by Joy Delgado
We go Beyond Reading
Laughing Zebra – Books for Children
Check out what’s going on at the zoo!
Zooprise Party / Fiesta Zoorpresa blog

Bilingual Friday: Pros and Cons of ESL and Bilingual Education Programs

I recently read an article comparing bilingual education and the ESL program. You can read it over at Bright Hub.

I think both sides of this argument have merit.

Immersing children in a 'foreign to them language' can help them pickup more of the local culture and ways of their new country as well as teach them a new language.

At the same time, letting them see that their own language and culture have a place in their new home is important too.

Why can't schools do both? Not only will it benefit the children from other countries, but it will help those who are native as well. Everyone benefits when they understand each other’s language and culture.

With that said, I think the hardest part of these programs happens when you have children from several very different foreign language backgrounds, like Spanish and Korean.

Do you offer bilingual education in both languages of pick one?

Do you use one language one week and the other the next?

How could you work it out so every child's language is included?

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? I'd like to hear your thoughts on this very controversial subject here in the USA.

posted by Joy Delgado
We go Beyond Reading
Laughing Zebra – Books for Children
Check out what’s going on at the zoo!
Zooprise Party / Fiesta Zoorpresa blog