Dual Language - Types of Dual Language Program

Types of Dual Language Program

There are four main types of dual language programs, which mainly differ in the population:

1. Developmental, or maintenance, bilingual programs. These enroll primarily students who are native speakers of the partner language.
2. Two-way (bilingual) immersion programs. These enroll a balance of native English speakers and native speakers of the partner language.
3. Foreign language immersion, language immersion or one-way immersion. These enroll primarily native English speakers.
4. Heritage language programs. These mainly enroll students who are dominant in English but whose parents, grandparents, or other ancestors spoke the partner language.

The term "dual language" is often used interchangeably with two-way immersion. Other variations on dual language include "dual language immersion," "dual immersion," and "dual enrollment". The term bilingual education has somewhat fallen out of favor among dual language practitioners, but it is still used to refer to any program that uses two languages for instruction.

Dual language programs are different from transitional bilingual programs, where the aim is to transition students out of their native language and, in the United States, into English as quickly as possibly, usually in three years. This is sometimes referred to as subtractive bilingualism since the first language is typically lost as English is acquired. Dual language programs are considered to promote "additive bilingualism", meaning that students' primary language is developed and maintained as a second language is added.

Another type of program that is not considered dual language is foreign language education where students receive less than half a day studying in the partner language, and often only study language arts and literature in that language as opposed to content area subjects such as mathematics, science, and social studies.