Promoting Bilingualism in Education

In order to provide the best education possible for emergent bilinguals, it is crucial to implement effective research-based literacy practices in both their native language and English integrating explicit instruction. This will ensure that EBs are able to develop strong language and literacy skills in both languages. By utilizing practices such as cross-linguistic connections, metalinguistic awareness, collaborative approach, and literacy-based practices through thematic units, among others, educators can create a supportive and inclusive learning environment that promotes the success of all students. Clear and structured instruction is crucial in developing languages in a DL classroom. To truly master a skill, it is essential to have ample opportunities to listen, speak using their entire linguistic repertoire, read various genres, and write with a purpose. Building knowledge in two languages with effective practices will help students develop a robust biliteracy trajectory. 

Not every student gets to show what they know. Especially if they speak more than one language. Too often, their fluency is invisible. Their bilingualism goes unrecognized. But that may finally change. Last month, Congress introduced the BEST Act - a federal bill to fund Seal of Biliteracy programs. And honestly? It’s a big deal. This bill gives states grants to celebrate real proficiency. Not just in English. But in a second language too. It helps cover the cost of assessments - so low-income students can participate. No one should miss out because they couldn’t afford a test. Since 2011, over 500,000 students in California have earned this seal. Now the goal is to expand that impact nationwide. Because language isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a global skill, a career advantage, and a human connector. Employers value it. Colleges look for it. But more importantly students feel seen by it. As the founder of LingoCircle, I’ve met too many kids who were labeled “behind” when they were just bilingual. This bill gives us a better way to measure what really matters: Not test-taking speed. Not accent-free grammar. But true, confident communication. Let’s stop mistaking silence for a lack of ability. Let’s start celebrating multilingualism as the strength it is. If your school could get funding to scale biliteracy recognition, how would you use it? 👇 Drop your thoughts. Let’s imagine better, together. Source - Language Magazine Article link in first comment #SealOfBiliteracy #BESTAct #BilingualEducation #ELL #EquityInEducation

🌍📚 On #InternationalMotherLanguageDay, we celebrate the power of language in education, identity, and culture. In Panama’s Ngäbe-Buglé comarca, home to over 210,000 Ngäbe people, a growing language gap threatens the transmission of Nägbere, their ancestral language. While most adults speak Nägbere, younger generations are more proficient in Spanish, widening educational disparities and risking cultural loss. To address this, #JADENKÄ, an intercultural bilingual education program, integrates Nägbere into early learning, using ethnomathematics to teach mathematical concepts through traditional knowledge in agriculture, art, and cosmology. A recent evaluation found that JADENKÄ significantly improves both mathematical and ethnomathematical skills, with learning gains comparable to other bilingual education programs in low- and middle-income countries. The impact on ethnomathematical skills (0.23 SD) was even higher, particularly for children who speak Nägbere and those taught by Ngäbe-identifying teachers. The program also strengthened students’ cultural identity and increased teachers’ knowledge of Nägbere language and culture. Far from creating a trade-off between academic learning and cultural identity, these findings reaffirm that bilingual education can help close the indigenous achievement gap while preserving language and heritage. 📖 Read the full study to explore the impact of JADENKÄ and the role of bilingual education in closing learning gaps and adapt programs to the context: https://lnkd.in/eKXx8h9t Emma Naslund-Hadley / Cynthia Hobbs / Juan Manuel Hernández-Agramonte / Humberto Santos / Carmen/Carmiña Albertos de Ceano-Vivas / Ana Grigera

Want kids to excel in English? Don't push English harder - develop their home language too. This graph shows decades of research following bilingual children in US schools. The surprising result? Kids in bilingual programs (enrichment models) consistently outperform those in English-focused programs (remedial models). Less English instruction + valuing home languages = better English outcomes. We've been approaching this backwards. Instead of treating bilingualism as a problem to solve, we should recognize it as an asset to develop. #BilingualEducation #LanguageLearning #Education