Family Resources - English

The resources listed below (in English) are intended for families who wish to deepen their understanding of Dual Language Immersion. Resources are also available in Spanish and Hmong.

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Dual Language and Immersion Basics

Dual Language Programs Explained
In this video, Diane August, an AIR (American Institutes for Research) managing researcher, explains the benefits of dual language programs and some of the challenges to implementing them.

​Language Immersion Education in Minnesota
Must-see video on the role language immersion programs can play in addressing Minnesota’s achievement gap and preparing its children to compete in the global economy. The video unites the voices of researchers and community leaders with those of immersion practitioners and their students.

Preparing Your Child (and you) for Dual Language Kindergarten
Fears and questions from parents who have chosen or who are considering dual language.

Questions Parents Frequently Ask about Dual Language Immersion

The Two-Way Immersion Toolkit
Information on the goals and key features of two-way dual language immersion education.

Bilingualism and Biliteracy

Bilingualism

The Five Stages of Second Language Acquisition
Students learning a second language move through five predictable stages. How quickly students progress through the stages depends on many factors, including level of formal education, family background, and length of time spent in the language.

The Five Stages of Second Language Acquisition
A qualified Speech Therapist and founder of Speech Clinic explains the 5 stages of language acquisition and the difference between first and second language development.

Stages of Second Language Acquisition: ESL, ELL, LEP & Bilingual
This video offers a description of second language acquisition and shows examples of each stage of second language development.

When to Take Your Bilingual Child to the Speech Pathologist
This guide will take you through some of the normal characteristics of bilingual speech acquisition as well as signs that you may want to take your child to a speech-language pathologist (SLP).

Biliteracy

Early Literacy Instruction in Spanish:  Teaching the Beginning Reader
This article shares some ways that early Spanish and English literacy instruction are similar and different. It also explains the order in which reading skills are typically taught in Spanish and suggests activities in the classroom and at home that complement instruction.

Help Your Child Learn to Read
This website is filled with tips for what you can do at home, fun activities, suggestions for choosing books to share together, and ideas on how you can prepare your child for a lifetime and love of reading.

Raising a Bilingual Child: The Importance of Reading
What language to use when reading to your child? What language to use when teaching your child to read? What kind of books to choose?  How to keep bilingual kids interested in reading in the minority language? Book recommendations.

Challenges of DLI

4 Myths about Struggling Students and Immersion Programs
What about students who struggle in immersion education? There’s certainly room in the field for more research on students who struggle in immersion programs, but existing research combined with our collective decades of experience as practitioners lead us to some clear answers to this question.

Bilingual Language Development and Challenges
Kathy Kohnert explains that typical challenges associated with acquiring a second language should be differentiated from communication disorders. She encourages providing support in both the home language, as well as English, for children who are bilingual. She explains that acquiring a home language proficiently helps pave the way for developing English. She clarifies that bilingualism doesn't cause communication disorders and that children with a variety of communication disorders can be bilingual.

Bilingual Language Development and Disorders
This video gives parents and caregivers information on what to expect when children are raised speaking more than one language, and provides information on language delay versus language difference. Includes examples of what a bilingual child’s speech sounds like if he or she has a language disorder.

Intervention Guidelines for Struggling Learners in Immersion Contexts
Dr. Tara Fortune, author of Struggling Learners and Language Immersion Education: Research-Based, Practitioner-Informed Responses to Educators’ Top Questions, provides guidelines for immersion stakeholders to consider as they work to support struggling learners.

When to Take Your Bilingual Child to the Speech Pathologist
This guide will take you through some of the normal characteristics of bilingual speech acquisition as well as signs that you may want to take your child to a speech-language pathologist (SLP).

College and Career Opportunities

College Credit Opportunities

Career Opportunities