Step 1 Begin with Clear Bilingual Navigation

When building a bilingual learning platform or module, one of the first steps is to establish clear and consistent bilingual access. Not all educational platforms support toggle switches or dual-language UIs — but you can still design access in strategic ways.

Platform-Based Bilingual Strategies

• 1. Use Built-In Language Options (if available):
     Many platforms like Khan Academy or Google offer native language switching features. For example, in Khan Academy, students can change their profile language to Español under settings — teachers can then assign the same content in Spanish.

  2. Duplicate and Label Assignments:
     If the platform doesn’t support toggling content language (e.g., IXL, Google Classroom), create duplicate activities in both English and Spanish. Label them clearly (e.g., "Writing Prompt / Redacción").

  3. Add a Landing Page Language Selector:
     Create a welcome screen that asks: "Choose your language / Elige tu idioma" with buttons or links to language-specific pages or activities.

  4. Side-by-Side Slides:
     Display both languages in one space using columns or sections labeled "English" and "Español." This is especially effective for younger learners or visual scaffolding.

  5. Embed or Link Visual Translations:
     If the platform is rigid, include a downloadable Google Doc or PDF with translated instructions, or use an embedded Google Translate tool to support comprehension.

How-to's

Ready to Make It Shine? Here's What to Do (and What Not To) 

Before you jump into building your slides, PDFs, or platforms, let’s hit pause and zoom out. You’ve got the “what to do” — now let’s make sure you know how to do it well.

Designing bilingual materials isn’t just about adding Spanish — it’s about avoiding those sneaky pitfalls that make one language feel like an afterthought.

Head over to the Do’s and Don’ts page for a quick gut-check on design choices that elevate learning sin confusión y con corazón.