Workforce Language Services

A Cafe Magazine article talks about the progress of dual-language schools in Chicago, and benefits their students are receiving.

To clarify: dual-language education is one of several approaches to bilingual education. Unlike ESL or transitional bilingual learning, the dual-language method teaches both English and Spanish to both English and Spanish native speakers. “Dual-language learning emphasizes the idea that English and Spanish are equal languages and that there is not a movement from a lesser language to a better language, but that both are beneficial to learning.”

St. Procopius Elementary protects the native language by teaching about 90% of the day in Spanish in Kindergarten, and progress to a 50/50 model by third grade. The school’s goal is to graduate completely bilingual and bicultural students.

Another dual-language model is Chicago Public Schools’ Inter American Magnet School, opened 30 years ago on the North Side.

Acting Principal Susan Kilbain states that the school’s program benefits all students. In a school of 650 students, about half of the students do not speak Spanish before entering the program. All teachers are bilingual and, unlike St. Procopius, it does not reach the 50/50 point until seventh and eighth grade. “It’s a very successful program,” Kilbain says. “It’s a schoolwide commitment.”

Dual-language education faces one problem: convincing parents, especially second and third generation Latinos who see a stigma associated with the Spanish language, that there is a benefit to being bilingual. Research aside, many parents tend to discourage learning Spanish.

Click here to read the full article.