Seventh International Conference on Immersion and Dual Language Education

Strand III: Program Design, Development and Evaluation

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In this presentation, we discuss similarities and differences between bilingual programs in Australia, Canada and Spain based on comparative research of program structures. Most of the bilingual programs have goals of providing students with future employment opportunities, cognitive advantages and cultural understanding of others. Programs are designed to be intensive second language learning models, but learner populations vary, and include heritage and background speakers of the language medium of instruction (for example German, French, Mandarin, Japanese and others).  We found, however, that programs generally allow all students to reach a high competency in any heritage, second or additional languages if they have a long-term sustainable goal, parents’ supports and a focus on oral skills of the language taught. This presentation will focus on how biliteracy is conceptualized in the programs and how achievements in biliteracy are assessed.  The paper reflects on the challenges for program designs associated with the languages chosen, the learner needs and the sociolinguistic context.