7 Steps to Success in Dual Language Immersion: A Brief Guide for Teachers and Administrators

Dual language immersion is one of the most important movements in second language education today. But many teachers, administrators, and policy makers have questions. How is it different from traditional second language instruction? What does it look like? What are its goals? And most important: How is it implemented?

In 7 Steps to Success in Dual Language Immersion, youll find answers to these broad questions. Youll also discover a blueprint for implementation and instruction at the K5 level that works. Lore CarreraCarrillo and Annette Rickert Smith describe a step-by-step, start-to-finish model for teaching across the content areas in two languages. They guide you through all of the seven key steps, including:

• creating a program overview
• organizing classroom space
• planning instruction
• using exemplary teaching methods
• teaching through hands-on activities
• supporting instruction and accountability through assessment
• building community support

In addition, they show you how exemplary programs work, and their instructional plan includes familiar formats such as balanced literacy, integrated thematic instruction, hands-on math and science lessons, and cooperative learning. Their ideas and resources will also help you secure the support of parents and community members whose help is vital to the long-term success of any two-way initiative.

If you are moving from a single language to a dual language setting, or if you want to better understand the biliterate setting youre in, read 7 Steps to Success in Dual Language Immersion. Youll get the practical, proven support you need to help students achieve in any language.

Lore Carrera-Carrillo is a dual language program consultant. She has been an educator, school-site administrator, and director of English language learner programs in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her dissertation was a qualitative comparison study of programs for English language learner students in the state of Texas.

Annette Rickert Smith is licensed in both elementary and secondary education and holds professional endorsements in teaching English as a second language (TESL), bilingual education, and administration. Her extensive teaching experiences range from university to preschool level, foreign as well as domestic, and in both public and private schools.