This literature review will take a focused look at the three currently accepted theoretical foundations upon which two-way bilingual immersion programs are based. Through an examination of research on identity construction in childhood and adolescence, particularly as seen through a critical pedagogical lens, it proposes that there exists a fourth…

This document discusses the teaching of Indigenous languages. Immersion programs have become very popular over that past few years, and serve as an effective tool to teaching languages. In addition to language immersions, conferences and language revivals are also effective tools in teaching languages. This document provides an overview of these…

Reviews literature from 1968-86 on enrichment strategies for gifted children in the primary grades. A variety of questions concerning primary school gifted children in French immersion classes are discussed and implications for teachers are summarized. (35 references) (Author/MSE)

Examines the German version of an experiment to enhance the learning of a foreign language; specifically, the strategy requires not using any English at all in the classroom, but to use the target language in all matters concerning every lesson. (GLR)

Provides a brief overview of the sociolinguistic situation in which the Catalan immersion program is being implemented and discusses the issues related to the main feature that distinguishes the program--the low socioeconomic background of the students. Also discussed are current theories about the discontinuity between the language used at home…

Reviews the development of the language immersion method to teach French in Canada in 1965, and discusses the spread of its use to other countries and other languages. The definition of "immersion" is briefly reviewed, and its efficacy is discussed. Finally, possible reasons for the method's success are examined. (12 references) (JL)

Addresses common questions about immersion-type language programs in Australia through interviews with 18 immersion program students. An explanation is given of what goes on in an immersion program; and student comments regarding the program's knowledge, academic, cultural, social, and general aspects are provided. (six references) (GLR)

Describes immersion programs currently in operation in Finland and Spain. Both are based on the Canadian model and are perhaps the start of an overall trend in Europe toward multiculturalism and multilingualism. (LET)

Many approaches to instruction of language minority students have been tried: transitional bilingual education (BE), maintenance BE, foreign language education, immersion, and developmental-language BE. Research evidence of BE benefits has been ignored as a monolingual dominant class enforces assimilation. (SK)

Discusses the Hawaiian-language-revitalization effort, which is the most developed of any indigenous-language revitalization in the United States. During the last 15 years, Hawaiian-language revitalization has centered around establishing indigenous-medium/immersion education and implementing the official status of the language of Hawaii.…

Research concerning the success factors in language immersion education is reviewed, focusing on five major schools of thought. First, the traditional model for immersion research, implemented in a Montreal (Canada) suburb is examined. Then three studies of the influence of affective variables in immersion program success are examined, and it is…

Examines the history of language issues and educational policies in the Marshall Islands. Discussion focuses on the administrative, financial, curricular, and staffing features of current language and educational programs, and an immersion model of bilingual Marshallese-English education is proposed to counteract some of the negative outcomes of…

Reports on the Homelessness Immersion Project, a program developed at Molloy College to educate students about poverty that not only provides theoretical information about economic and social issues but also helps students develop personal insight into the experience of living in poverty. Describes how the program brings together community-service…

The evaluation of bilingual education programs is complicated by such factors as the diversity of evaluation methodologies and program goals and the reliability of instruments for minority language students. Three bilingual program evaluations in foreign countries are described in terms of their different contexts and approaches in order to raise…

Argues that the research on language immersion and subject-matter teaching indicates that the immersion approach is a feasible and desirable alternative to traditional skills-based instruction for college-level foreign-language programs. (Author/CB)