Bilingual education: what is it and what are its advantages?

Education

Updated April 12, 2023

Table of contents

1. What is bilingual education?

2. Bilingual education models

   1. Programs for maintaining one's own language and culture

   2. Immersion programs

3. The advantages of bilingual education

4. How to enrich bilingual education?

   1. The relationship of neuroscience with bilingual education

   2. A commitment to active methodologies

   3. The importance of ICT

   4. Family support

5. Bilingual teaching and teacher training

The globalized and multicultural world in which we live has made language learning essential for a person's professional and social development. Therefore, providing future generations with appropriate language skills has become a key objective within the educational field.

In Spain, according to statistics from the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MEFP), in 2020, 46% of Primary Education schools , 47% of Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) centers and education (or plurilingual, in those autonomous communities with co-official languages)

If you want to know more about what bilingual education is and how to train in it with our online Master in Bilingual Education , we encourage you to read this publication.

What is bilingual education?

The Cervantes Institute defines the concept of bilingual education or teaching as "that which provides instruction in two languages. It is, therefore, an education in which the two languages ​​are instrumental and vehicle for teaching-learning activities of any content ."

In other words, it is an educational model that allows you to dedicate more time to learning second languages ​​without taking time away from other content. The objective is to train bilingual people, that is, those who are capable of speaking, reading, writing and understanding both languages . All this to open their doors to better professional opportunities and also expand their cultural horizons.

Current methodological approaches in second language teaching are at the forefront of teaching innovation and are combined with project-based learning, inquiry, cooperative learning, games and the use of digital technologies. All of this increases the motivation of students and teachers.

Bilingual education models

If bilingual education is understood as that which promotes the learning and use of two or more languages ​​in the classroom , then it is possible to differentiate, among others, the following basic models of bilingual education:

Programs for maintaining one's own language and culture

During the first years of schooling, students use their mother tongue (L1) while receiving classes in a second language (L2), with the idea that they develop their linguistic and communicative skills in this language. L1 and L2 “coexist” at all times .

Immersion programs

Some subjects in the school curriculum, if not all of them, are taught in a language other than the students' L1. Depending on the degree of immersion, we can distinguish between:

• Partial immersion: L1 and L2 are used alternatively as a means of communication in the classroom.

• Total immersion: the L2 is the dominant vehicular language of the curriculum.

The advantages of bilingual education

Some of the most notable advantages that bilingual education offers students are:

• Linguistic competence: it is the most obvious benefit. But, in addition, this ability activates brain networks and allows people to have a more open outlook and thought.

• Professional competence: without a doubt, one of the reasons why many people decide on bilingual education. With this type of education, professional possibilities multiply, allowing us to work with international and multilingual teams.

• Cognitive competence: being bilingual is much more than speaking two languages, as it allows you to develop communication skills and provides mental flexibility.

• Cultural competencies: a language is also culture, and that is precisely what is acquired along with linguistic competencies, breaking down cultural and mental barriers, and providing a broader vision of the world.

How to enrich bilingual education?

The relationship of neuroscience with bilingual education

Research in the field of neuroscience that has been carried out in recent years has shown that bilingual education not only has positive effects for academic development , but also for the professional, mental and emotional development of students.

Students in well-applied bilingual programs are able to process information better, develop attentional skills and acquire greater metacognitive awareness , in addition to optimizing other executive functions (problem solving, task completion, behavioral regulation, etc.).

A commitment to active methodologies

Learning any concept is always much more significant if it is done through practical, motivating, challenging activities associated with the students' real context . Something that the methodologies make possible and, therefore, are considered the best option for bilingual education.

These pedagogical strategies seek the development of a dynamic bilingualism in which each student contributes their individual knowledge and experiences , while collaborating on common projects with an active group and using materials of different types and in different languages .

For bilingual education processes to develop correctly, 2 factors are key. On the one hand, students feel that they are in a safe, supportive environment overflowing with positive emotions . And, on the other hand, that teachers integrate with their students , participate with them and be an active part of the discussions that may arise in the classroom, and not just be in front of it speaking from the blackboard or desk.

The importance of ICT

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are also a very useful tool to improve the quality of the teaching-learning process in bilingual contexts. Of course, as long as they are implemented from an innovative approach and teachers are provided with high technological and pedagogical knowledge.

The incorporation of ICT into bilingual education allows students to access a wide range of digital tools with which to collaborate, improve understanding and practice a language in a motivating, fun and effective way : online games, music, videos, e-books, series and movies, video calling platforms, etc.

Furthermore, another characteristic that makes them ideal for bilingual contexts is that they enable personalized learning through software that allows students to follow lessons based on their level of linguistic competence, while the teacher collects data on the needs of each student and uses that information to adapt the classes.

Family support

In most cases, the family plays an active role in the education of children, in addition to being their main reference. For both reasons, the interest and attitude of parents and/or legal guardians with respect to learning a foreign language greatly influences (and is later noticed) the behavior and opinion that their children have towards other languages ​​and cultures.

When working on prejudices and possible conflict situations, it is important that there is a continuous, fluid and effective communication and relationship between the educational center and the families . And, in order to obtain the maximum performance from bilingual programs, it is essential that they participate in the activities that take place at the school and institute . And not only that, the use of a foreign language at home is also encouraged .

Bilingual teaching and teacher training