Dual Language Education

Dual language education, a form of bilingual education in which content area instruction is provided in English and another language, is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, with program estimates growing from 1,000 in 2010 to nearly 4,000 in 2021. The popularity of these programs is due to their demonstrated efficacy in promoting academic achievement in two languages and increasing awareness of the benefits of bilingualism and sociocultural competence. This growth in dual language programs is not limited to the U.S.; this model is also growing in popularity worldwide in public and private schools.  

In many dual language programs, instruction in the two program languages is carried out by two different teachers who share responsibility for teaching the same group of children. Despite the frequency of this approach, teachers are provided with very little guidance or support on how to coordinate instruction. Dual Language Connections, LLC, a woman-owned educational consulting firm based in Connecticut, was founded in May 2021 to address this issue.