Comments on: Foreign Language Academies of Glendale: A Dual Immersion Case Study

By: Ask an Expert: Will a Spanish Immersion Education Work for Us? « SpanglishBaby

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:39:29 +0000

[...] of the most helpful and resourceful experts we met while doing research for these articles on language immersion programs was Cristina Aguilar Allen. She is the Dual Immersion Facilitator for the Glendale (California) [...]

By: The Beginner’s Guide to SpanglishBaby « SpanglishBaby

The Beginner’s Guide to SpanglishBaby « SpanglishBaby — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:47:24 +0000

[...] Foreign Language Academies of Glendale: A Dual Immersion Case Study [...]

By: Fatima Sfiligoi

Fatima Sfiligoi — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:11:29 +0000

The dual language immersion sounds like the perfect option for bilingual families! In my case, if we had that option, I would get rid of all the pressure that I put on myself to spend every free second I have to be with my kids so they can absorb as much Spanish as possible! So far it’s been fun because we always find fun ways to learn something but when they grow up I’m afraid that it will feel more like an obligation for them to sit with me to learn how to read or write or to practice reading, writing, math, etc! Thank you Roxana and Ana Lilian for this wonderful blog! I very much appreciate it.

By: A Brief Look at Heritage Language Schools--SpanglishBaby

A Brief Look at Heritage Language Schools--SpanglishBaby — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:10:01 +0000

[...] brick wall when it comes to Spanish immersion pre-schools, or even schools in my area. I do have an elementary scoped out, but I would like for her to be immersed in Spanish through playful learning at this age [...]

By: SpanglishBaby-Ask an Expert::Will a Language Immersion Program Work for Us?

SpanglishBaby-Ask an Expert::Will a Language Immersion Program Work for Us? — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:59:28 +0000

By: The Bilingual Debate

The Bilingual Debate — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:19:06 +0000

[...] In case you’d like to know more about the awesome advantages of dual immerssion education (also known by some as bilingual education), I suggest you first check out this post which gives you a general description. For more specifics on how this system actual works, go here. And, to read about how a specific school district is accomplishing their goal of raising students bilingual in this country, check out this post. [...]

By: Ana Lilian

Ana Lilian — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 05:21:35 +0000

@Marianna-We always love your comments! Thanks!
To answer your question: It’s good to “overthink” these issues because whichever path you choose to take has to feel comfortable to you.
In my opinion, dual immersion programs are successful if your goal is for your daughter to become biliterate as well as bilingual. She will learn to read and write in two languages and gain many more cultural and academic skills.
Clarissa will still learn from both her parents the way things are called at home.
Think of it as her learning a third language, well almost.
She’s a sponge right now and will easily be able to recognize that “chaqueta” and “chamarra” are both the words for jacket. Just the same way she’s learning that every object has a name in English and Spanish. It’s the same learning process. She’ll get it.

By: Unapologetic Polyglot

Unapologetic Polyglot — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 03:18:13 +0000

An additional added benefit for English learners in Dual Immersion programs is that it offers a form of maintenance bilingual education, but English learners are not segregated as has been the case traditionally in many early exit forms of bilingual education. These programs are wonderful and are growing rapidly in popularity!! Unapologetic Polyglot’s last blog post..The Beginning Origins of The Unapologetic Polyglot

By: Marianna

Marianna — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:55:38 +0000

One of my biggest concerns and probably the reason why I haven’t researched any dual language immersion programs for my daughter is that the way I speak and I am teaching Clarissa Spanish is not the way the majority of the hispanic population in Los Angeles speak, the vocabulary is quite different for example we say “cambur” instead of “banano” “maleta” instead of “cajuela”; “chaqueta” instead of “chamarra”; “morral” o “bulto” instead of “mochila”, “coche” instead of “carrito” and “carro” instead of “coche” and I can go on and on about how we all use different words to refer to the same thing.
Is it possible to find a dual immersion program specifically designed to meet my needs? Am I over thinking this? or am I missing something?