This semester, the David O. McKay School of Education at Brigham Young University has begun offering a new bilingual minor, preparing teachers to teach native Spanish and English speakers in a dual-immersion environment.
Dual immersion classes consist of both native English and native Spanish speakers. Students receive instruction and respond in English for half of the school day and in Spanish the other half.
Existing programs such as English Language Learners and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) left gaps when it came to bilingual immersion, said Ray Graham, associate professor of teacher education. For example, children who have immigrated to the United States and are immersed in an English-speaking classroom have very different needs from students living in a foreign country who want to learn English.
“For the child who immigrated to the United States, the challenge is to keep up academically,” said Graham.
Requirements for the bilingual minor include course work and a practicum in a dual immersion class. Candidates must speak fluent Spanish. Meeting the requirements of the minor also earns the candidate a bilingual endorsement through the Utah State Office of Education.
For more information, contact Roxanna Johnson at (801) 422-1922 or roxanna_johnson@byu.edu.
Writer: Brady Toone
