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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

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bilingual education

Learn more about bilingual education

Bridging Spanish language barriers in Southern schools
These articles provide background on Latino immigrants in North Carolina, administrative challenges in binational education, and strategies through which teachers can build on what Latino students bring to their classrooms to create a learning environment that meets the needs of all students.
Format: series (multiple pages)
Using bilingual dictionaries
This lesson focuses on learning to use a bilingual dictionary while acquiring first and second language vocabulary about language and grammar.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Second Languages)
By Carolyn Zuttel.
Harriet Love on integration
In this 1998 oral history excerpt, Love speaks about the motivations people had for supporting integration and starts off with an insightful response. She then goes on to describe many more subtle effects of integration such as the challenged to teachers and...
Format: audio
Global education as good pedagogy
A wide variety of teaching strategies and resources pass under the name of global education. This article provides strategies for evaluating global education and ensuring that it focuses on students' academic success.
By Suzanne Gulledge.
English language learners and special education testing
In Bridging Spanish language barriers in Southern schools, page 3.4
English language learners are often incorrectly labeled with learning disabilities because of inffective diagnostic tests. A more effective model of testing and instruction would be based upon the educational concepts of scaffolding instruction and the Zone of Proximal Development.
Format: article
By Mary Faith Mount-Cors.

Find all 18 resources in our collection.

Classes taught in a combination of a students’ first language and English, geared toward helping student with limited English proficiency (LEP) become proficient in English as a second language (ESL). Students in bilingual programs receive part of their daily instruction in English and part in a second language. Significant portions of the school day are devoted to ESL instruction, in which each student receives intensive assistance in learning English.

See also English-only movement, immersion, immersion.

Additional information

The 1974 Supreme Court Decision Lau v. Nichols directed school districts throughout the nation to adequately serve LEP students. The Court mandated no single instructional program; school districts may provide bilingual instruction as a means of ensuring equal access to educational opportunities for limited English proficient students. Advocates of bilingual education compete with advocates of English-only programs.

Examples and resources