Early years' immersion education programmes can be either monolingual or bilingual, and their objectives can range from language maintenance and/or enrichment to early second language learning, depending on the context of implementation. Here we examine some of the key issues and policy concerns relating to immersion education in the early…

This article describes three big programs from Delaware where the less commonly taught languages find their home in Delaware elementary schools. Odyssey Charter School, located in Wilmington, is one of the very few Greek-language-focused public schools in the nation. The school began in 2006 as a Greek immersion program that concentrated on the…

At the Punana Leo everyone, "'Anakala", uncle--a male teacher, "'Anake," aunty--a female teacher, and the "keiki," children all play important roles in the educational program of the school. Each and all are responsible for the learning that takes place and the success of the program. In this article, the author…

Globalization has led to unprecedented interest in expanding foreign language instruction in U.S. schools, particularly at grade levels where traditionally it has not been an option. Languages that previously have been rarely taught, such as Chinese, are frequently the choice of new programs at every level in the K-12 range. As No Child Left…

The Language Immersion Program at the State University College of New York at New Paltz provides a highly effective and exciting learning environment for intensive study of a foreign language. Participants progress rapidly and gain greater confidence and enthusiasm as they develop fluency. (CB)

Describes the teaching principles of Catalan as a second language, applied by two teachers in an immersion program. Discusses results of an analysis based on an approach called "teacher thinking." The viewpoints of the teachers have allowed the researchers to define teaching principles of Catalan, or the general strategies that the…

This introductory paper reviews the development of Maori language total immersion courses for adults, based on the author's own experience. Total immersion courses were established as part of the Maori mission under the Whakatupuranga Rua Mano-Generation 2000 tribal program. The program supports Maori people who can "karanga" (do a…

This article presents a roundup of the Arabic language instruction offered in the Dearborn, Michigan, school district. Only one of the district's 22 elementary schools--Becker--offers Arabic. Pupils receive at least two 40 minute periods of Arabic a week. The school gave up a two-way immersion program, in which students were taught half their…

This paper discusses the potential of bilingual education and its possible implementation in Kyrgzystan, focusing on why bilingual education can be useful in solving linguistic tension in Kyrgzystan and which organizational questions must be considered to make bilingual education effective. The paper begins by examining and refuting common…

An approach to teaching the rudiments of amateur journalism in an intensive language (Brazilian Portuguese) program component of a university Masters of International Business Studies program is reported. Ways that such a project can contribute to the fostering of a communicative language teaching curriculum are discussed. (LB)

A discussion of bilingual education in the Basque Country of Spain presents and compares three language education program/policy models: (1) the traditional approach to language instruction as a subject area, found to be minimally effective in developing second language skills; (2) partial immersion, originally with instruction almost exclusively…

Describes bilingual/bicultural programs being developed in New Zealand which embrace the Maori culture and nationalism through such approaches as "language nests" for preschool children and their parents or primary grade immersion programs. Social studies guidelines emphasizing Maori culture are also discussed. (Author/CB)

Describes the Punana Leo Immersion Schools in Hawai'i, founded in 1983 by a group of Hawai'ian-language educators concerned about the impending extinction of their language. A second part describes two of the teachers and their philosophy about imparting language skill through spirit and culture. Sidebar describes the Advocates for Indigenous…

This paper describes the benefits of indigenous mother tongue immersion programs, examining the Total Physical Response approach to immersion for beginning learners and focusing on the development of Maori and Hawaiian mother tongue language immersion programs. The paper discusses the importance of immersing students in a language-risk…

This paper describes the use of Theatre of the Oppressed (TO), a movement of radical theater and popular education designed for communities sharing common oppression, to help First Nations people return to and stabilize their mother tongues. It suggests that for many First Nations people, relearning their languages involves confronting histories…