Dual language education integrates language minority students and language majority students for academic instruction in two languages. The Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District’s program aims for:
BILINGUALISM – the ability to speak fluently in two languages, and
BILITERACY – the ability to read and write in two languages.
Studies show that people who are bilingual are nicer and earn more income over their lifetime. There are also academic benefits to being bilingual as well.
5 Benefits of Bilingualism and Biliteracy
- Bilingual students score an average of 23 to 34 points higher on both Math and Language Arts standardized testing.
- Students who have studied a second language for 4 years or more score and average of 100 points higher on the SAT.
- According to a MIT study, people who know two or more languages earn an average of $128,000 more in their lifetimes.
- The National Institute of Health discovered that people who are bilingual are better at multitasking and are able to function at higher cognitive levels.
- The University of Cambridge discovered that people who are bilingual are nicer! According to the study findings, bilingual people are able to manage differences and more easily find solutions to conflict.
Successful Programs in the Dallas Area
Currently, CFBISD offers the program at three elementary schools including Stark Elementary, Thompson Elementary, and McKamy Elementary. CFBISD is also proud to offer a continuation of the Dual Language Program at Vivian Field Middle School.
You can visit CFBISD’s Dual language page and view a video from a current dual language student at www.cfbduallanguage.com
What additional questions do you have about dual language programs? Ask your questions in the comment section below.
Will CFB be expanding the Dual Language program into any more middle schools besides Field? If yes, when is that expected to happen?
Not at the moment, but we are always studying ways to improve our district.