Dual Language Programs Empower Students with Bilingualism

It’s time for math at McDonald International Elementary, and Miwa Casper is breezing through her lesson with ease. The 5th-grade Japanese immersion teacher prompts her students to respond, and they all do – but not in English. In this class, students can only answer in Japanese.

Seattle Public Schools serves more than 6,700 English language learners who come from 159 different countries and speak 158 languages and dialects across the district.  

In SPS, dual language immersion programs are transforming education by allowing students to spend half their day learning in a different language. This approach not only fosters bilingualism and biliteracy but also enhances cognitive skills and cultural awareness. The mission is to prepare students, in partnership with families and community, for global citizenship. 

SPS currently offers Dual Language Immersion in five international elementary schools: Concord, Beacon Hill, Dearborn Park, John Stanford, and McDonald. All middle schools offer some type of World Language programming, but there are three with specific language pathways: Denny, Mercer, and Hamilton. 

McDonald International offers Japanese and Spanish immersion programs and students choose the pathway they want to take. Casper said dual language programs can be difficult, but students often rise to the challenge. 

“We have some resources in English, so some kids who were not sure about the concept, they can still check in later,” she said. “But most of the time when I finish the lessons, students [understand] the main part of the lesson.” 

Casper said to be successful in dual languages requires teachers to rely on each other. She said it is important that students learn the basics in the younger grade levels so that they can work on more complicated concepts in the upper grades. 

“Kindergartners, first, second, third and fourth [graders] have been exposed to this model for the last five years. So, I am really counting on those younger grade teachers to teach basic Japanese, too,” she said. 

In an elementary dual language model, the primary focus is on having students learn a concept in one language. Once they understand a concept, they can more easily find the words in a different language to explain it. 

At Concord, students engage in a two-way dual language program in Spanish and English. Barbra Zambrano is one of the school’s multilingual teachers. She explained the benefits of learning a second language when students are young.

“You know the brain actually wires differently when you have when you’re learning two languages,” she said. “The brain becomes more flexible in thinking, more flexible in problem solving because it works so fast transmitting.”

Research supports the advantages of dual language programs, indicating that kids who are bilingual often exhibit stronger problem-solving skills and higher academic achievement. The program also prepares students for a global workforce, where being multilingual is an asset. 

Jaden Wu and Iqra Kalif are fifth graders at Dearborn Park. Although both students are already fluent in their native languages, they are taking the opportunity to expand their skills.  

Jaden is from China and speaks Mandarin, but he is now learning how to read and write in the language. He believes it’s important for him to retain his home language to better communicate with family and friends when he visits China.

“If I travel back to China with my family, I could speak fluent Mandarin,” he said. “And if someone asked me to write something, I could write it easily and understand it easily too.”

Iqra is multilingual. She speaks Somali, English and is on the Spanish pathway at Dearborn Park. 

“Learning a new language excites me because it gave me the ability to connect with people from other cultures and make new friends, learn about the culture and watch movies in different languages,” she said. “It gives me the ability to connect with people. When people don’t know what to say, I can help them.” 

Seattle Public Schools is committed to offering K-12 dual language immersion pathways in Spanish, Japanese, and Mandarin, ensuring that students can continue their bilingual education throughout their academic journey.  

Graduating seniors who have demonstrated their language skills through World Language Credit Testing or passed Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) language exams have the honor of receiving the state Seal of Biliteracy. It highlights the benefits of speaking, reading, and writing English and at least one other language.   

SPS dual language immersion programs provide students with invaluable linguistic skills, cultural insights, and cognitive benefits, preparing them to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.