explore dual language immersion education that transforms lives

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the addalingua difference

Over the past decade, we’ve heard enough stories from our partner schools to know that addalingua programs are changing lives. Our dual language immersion programs do more than prepare students for academic and linguistic success in two languages. They do more than scratch the surface of another culture.

addalingua is a social impact organization that exists to inspire global empathy – the ability to understand and accept the feelings of others, including those most different from us – through education in two languages. We believe that ALL students should have the opportunity to do school in two languages. 

inspire global empathy - through language

  • addalingua pathfinder survey

    The pathfinder survey helps us better understand your school community and directs you to the right addalingua program for your school. Get on the right path in less than five minutes.
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Ready to learn more? Select the program that best fits your school community.

  • 90-10 two-way

    The addalingua 90-10 two-way program works well in schools with a relatively balanced population of Spanish and English-speaking students.
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What is dual language immersion education and what are its guidelines for success?

definition: 

Dual language immersion education is a method of educating students in an instructional setting that allows them to acquire a second language through subject content instruction, educational discourse, and social interaction in the second language for at least 50% of the academic day (Cloud et al., 2000). 

goals:

All addalingua programs are steadfast in the following three goals:

  1. grade-level biliteracy
  2. cultural competence
  3. academic achievement commensurate with or above that of similar student populations within the same school or district 

Commitment to upholding the these three goals ensures that addalingua programs are additive, not subtractive in nature. Additive programs follow quality guidelines and demonstrate student outcomes that reflect grade-level literacy skills in two languages rather than one. In other words, students become proficient in a second language at NO COST to their home language.

benefits of learning to read in Spanish

“A student who begins early literacy instruction in a more consistent phonetic system will more easily transfer those skills to English later on.”

Dr. Tara W. Fortune

Director for the Immersion Program and Professional Development, Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA)

"well-designed program"

"It is good to know that we have trained professionals who can support what we do, and also, a well-designed program that takes into account everything from language and vocabulary to cultural competencies."

Maria Carlone

Spanish immersion teacher, St. Peter's Episcopal

addalingua frameworks help everything connect.

The addalingua frameworks that we utilize in this program are the base; they're what help us connect everything, not only the new words that they use, but also grammar components, etc. This helps students maintain thinking on the language focus, while they focus on content goals.

Silvia Núñez

Spanish immersion teacher, Zeeland Christian School

from the addalingua blog