There are many alternatives to Bilingual Education such as submersion, Spanish as a second language
(SSL), structured immersion, and two-way bilingual immersion. Each of these methods have their pros and
cons and have been found to be effective in certain studies.
All of the following methods should be given equal consideration when structuring an educational program
because they all contain pros and cons.
Submersion: Language minority students are placed in an ordinary classroom where Spanish is
spoken. There is no special program to help them overcome the language problem. Submersion is aptly
described as “sink or swim”. The minority home language is not used at all in the classroom. In Lau v.
Nichols the Supreme Court found that the submersion approach violated the civil rights of language-minority
students and that schools had to make an extra effort to help overcome the language problems of these
students.
Spanish as a Second Language (SSL): SSL students are placed in regular submersion instruction for
most of the day. During part of the day, however, these students receive extra instruction in Spanish. This
extra help is based on a special curriculum designed to teach Spanish as a second language.
Structured Immersion: Instruction is in Spanish, as in the case of submersion, but there are important
differences. The immersion teacher understands English, and students can address the teacher in English;
the immersion teacher, however, generally replies only in Spanish. Furthermore, the curriculum is structured
so that prior knowledge of Spanish is not assumed as [material] is taught. Content is introduced in a way
that can be understood by students."
Two-Way Bilingual Immersion: Students are taught in two languages; both their native language (English)
and Spanish. "Two-way bilingual immersion programs that follow the 90-10 models begin by immersing
students in instruction through English. As children progress through the program, the amount of Spanish
instruction is increased until the two languages attain parity in the delivery of instruction." "90-10" denotes
that 90% of teaching in is done in the native language of English and the other 10% of the day is taught in
Spanish.
A brief highlight of the positive and some of the negative attributes of these methods along with some data
from empirical research will help solve any deliberations among which method is most favorable under
certain conditions.
Submersion:
SSL:
Structured Immersion:
Two-Way Bilingual Immersion:
(SSL), structured immersion, and two-way bilingual immersion. Each of these methods have their pros and
cons and have been found to be effective in certain studies.
All of the following methods should be given equal consideration when structuring an educational program
because they all contain pros and cons.
Submersion: Language minority students are placed in an ordinary classroom where Spanish is
spoken. There is no special program to help them overcome the language problem. Submersion is aptly
described as “sink or swim”. The minority home language is not used at all in the classroom. In Lau v.
Nichols the Supreme Court found that the submersion approach violated the civil rights of language-minority
students and that schools had to make an extra effort to help overcome the language problems of these
students.
Spanish as a Second Language (SSL): SSL students are placed in regular submersion instruction for
most of the day. During part of the day, however, these students receive extra instruction in Spanish. This
extra help is based on a special curriculum designed to teach Spanish as a second language.
Structured Immersion: Instruction is in Spanish, as in the case of submersion, but there are important
differences. The immersion teacher understands English, and students can address the teacher in English;
the immersion teacher, however, generally replies only in Spanish. Furthermore, the curriculum is structured
so that prior knowledge of Spanish is not assumed as [material] is taught. Content is introduced in a way
that can be understood by students."
Two-Way Bilingual Immersion: Students are taught in two languages; both their native language (English)
and Spanish. "Two-way bilingual immersion programs that follow the 90-10 models begin by immersing
students in instruction through English. As children progress through the program, the amount of Spanish
instruction is increased until the two languages attain parity in the delivery of instruction." "90-10" denotes
that 90% of teaching in is done in the native language of English and the other 10% of the day is taught in
Spanish.
A brief highlight of the positive and some of the negative attributes of these methods along with some data
from empirical research will help solve any deliberations among which method is most favorable under
certain conditions.
Submersion:
- Pros - Children may learn the second language because they are forced to do so.
- Cons - During the time the child is struggling to learn a new language he/she may be falling behind
other children in other academic areas.
SSL:
- Pros - "Concentrated additional instruction in Spanish - language skills will keep students from falling
behind in other academic areas."
Structured Immersion:
- Pros - "Although the curriculum assumes no prior knowledge of Spanish, language-minority students in
effect learn Spanish as they would learn math, through English instruction that is understandable at their
level of proficiency.
Two-Way Bilingual Immersion:
- Pros - "The primary goal of two-way bilingual immersion programs is to develop language proficiency in
both languages.” To many it is now a positive that an emphasis is being made on retaining the native
language alongside the dominant one instead of completely replacing it.
| Second Language Methodology Guide |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
