This article describes the practical application of an innovative bilingual preschool program that involves two-way immersion of both English and Chinese in classrooms. This has not been written about extensively, especially in the context of early childhood classrooms in Asian countries. The primary goal of the two-way immersion kindergarten is…

Structured immersion, or transfer instruction, is proposed as a bridging program between English as a second language or bilingual programs and the all-English medium classroom. The theoretical background underlying the transfer of knowledge and skills from a child's first language to English is reviewed. Based on the assumption that learners will…

Rather than abandon bilingual education programs that have not met expectations, there is a need to assess implementation procedures in bilingual programs to determine whether or not they foster success or failure. Areas to be examined for insights and improvement include: (1) present policies concerning the goal of bilingual education and current…

National evaluation of Head Start bilingual curriculum development project indicated bilingual children receiving bilingual preschool services made greater preschool gains than comparison group children receiving regular English-language preschool services; English-preferring children placed in bilingual classrooms achieved similar preschool…

Though the Bilingual Education Act of 1968 was designed for elementary and secondary students, school districts often ignore the secondary level. The article examines various accomplishments and struggles in the field of secondary bilingual education, noting increases in the number of secondary students needing special language content area…

Pennsylvania's guide to help school districts develop programs for limited English proficient (LEP) students outlines considerations in using two different approaches, bilingual education and English as a second language (ESL) instruction, at the elementary and secondary levels. The issues addressed include appropriate instructional methods,…

The Hualapai (Arizona) Bilingual/Bicultural Program is nationally recognized for its achievements in native language literacy and bilingual/bicultural curriculum development. The article presents information on how the program evolved, the role of indigenous educators, community involvement, and biliteracy education in a community with a…

This book makes a case for the mother tongue as the medium of education for the first 12 years of the child's life. It describes Nigeria's 6-Year Primary Project, which taught experimental groups of students in their native Yoruba in varying degrees for their first 6 school years, beginning in 1970. The book shows how the mother-tongue education…

Presents a framework of biliteracy development focusing on the following three continua: (1) the macro-micro continuum of policy; (2) the monolingual-bilingual continuum; and (3) the oral-literate continuum. These are discussed in the contexts of Cambodian and Puerto Rican students in two public elementary schools in Philadelphia. (SLD)

Examines one example of an enrichment bilingual program in a middle school in an inner-city Latino neighborhood. The article discusses instances of motivated, interdisciplinary, and biliterate learning observed in the classroom, describes obstacles and solutions, and suggests directions for continued curricular development. (SM)

The Eastman Curriculum Design Project was intended to replicate, in seven selected schools, the modified bilingual education program implemented successfully at the Eastman Avenue Elementary School. Program features include: grouping by language proficiency for core subject instruction; separation of languages (no translation or concurrent…

This collection of 11 essays on bilingual special education addresses both theoretical and practical issues. The essays are: "Bilingual Special Education: The Important Connection" (Angela L. Carrasquillo); "Using Language Assessment Data for Language and Instructional Planning for Exceptional Bilingual Students" (Alba A.…

In 1986-87, the New York State Education Department's Bureau of Bilingual Education provided incentive grants to three New York City Board of Education's Office of Bilingual Education projects whose common goal was to improve instructional quality in schools that the state Comprehensive Assessment Report (CAR) had identified as having low student…