Describes a newly implemented dual language immersion program that exists and operates in Phoenix, Arizona. Examines the practices of dual language teachers at an elementary school and reviews the challenges teachers in six classrooms met. (SLD)

Educators and policy makers in many countries have been expressing concern about how to improve students' achievement in reading and math. This article explores and proposes a solution: introduce or increase foreign language study in the elementary schools. Research has shown that foreign language study in the early elementary years improves…

It is an underlying principle of Australian Education Review (AER) 54 that active efforts should be made to cultivate the latent bilingual potential within Australia's wider population and that this should be linked to major improvements in the quality of language teaching in schools. A combined approach of this kind will require investment in…

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…

In discussing the problems of evaluating Canadian bilingual immersion programs, six related aspects are separately considered: (1) the research design, (2) the students tested, (3) the nature of the tests used, (4) the methods of analysis employed, and (5) the interpretation of findings. (Author/SJL)

English-speaking pupils, who had participated since kindergarten in a French immersion program, were compared to French-speaking students and to English-speakers in a regular elementary program which included French instruction. Standardized tests in French, English, and mathematics showed achievement patterns consistent with those reported in…

Critiques two theories dominating bilingual education. The facilitation hypothesis predicts long-term advantage for bilingual education over all-English instruction. The time-on-task hypothesis predicts that all-English instruction is superior to bilingual education in teaching English. Argues that bilingual programs may facilitate English…

A study of classroom interaction in Ontario's French immersion programs is summarized. Transcripts of classroom interactions were analyzed for teaching practices that tend to decrease or encourage student speech. Results suggest that the use of language in immersion classrooms is not significantly different from language use in regular classes. It…

Student achievement in grades kindergarten through four in the partial immersion program of the Ottawa Roman Catholic Separate School Board was investigated. Achievement in English and French language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science was assessed using instruments referenced to learning objectives. Student and teacher background…

Examines research on the effectiveness of bilingual French/English "immersion" programs v French/English "intensive" programs consisting of a regular curriculum in English plus an intensive five-month oral French program. (AM)

Demographic, economic, and social realities make linguistic and cross-cultural competence essential skills for today's students. This article discusses three innovative program types that build on basic education while enriching it through second languages: second-language immersion for native English-speaking students; developmental bilingual…

A few Structured English Immersion programs have been developed and tested in the past two decades. The experience of these programs, especially Seattle's, can provide much-needed guidance to California's schools and reformers of bilingual programs. Although not necessarily an all-English program, SEI employs the original language less extensively…

An analysis of SAT-9 scores since passage of Proposition 227 indicates that scores increased for all students, not just for English-learning students; scores increased for most districts regardless of the programs implemented; it was not possible to isolate the impact of Proposition 227; and SAT-9 is not an appropriate measure for assessing…

Instead of viewing English learners as a problem needing remediation, educators should build an enriched bilingual program for all students. In successful two-way programs, both language groups stay together throughout the school day, serving as peer tutors for each other. After five or six years, English learners can demonstrate English and…

Coral Way Elementary School (Florida), the nation's oldest 20th-century public bilingual school, is recognized as a model for bilingual education. Its curriculum promotes enrichment and language development while building on the languages students bring to school. As well as a medium for moving students to English proficiency, it is a vehicle for…