Worldwide, more parents are opting for immersion pre-schooling for their children in order to benefit from its linguistic, educational, and cultural benefits. This immersion can be either bilingual or monolingual, aimed at early second language learning, or at language maintenance – offering minority language children mother-tongue support and enrichment. This book examines some of the key issues and policy concerns relating to immersion education in the early years. The term itself can be difficult in some political contexts, as can the differing outcomes noted by studies comparing monolingual programmes, and bilingual programmes for minority language children. The importance of training in immersion methodology for educators is discussed, as is the need to adapt preschool pedagogical practices to the immersion context, in order to provide optimal input for young language learners. One of the most pressing discussions surrounds differentiated provision – ensuring that the varying needs of children with language impairment, typical second language learners, and mother-tongue speakers with significant socioeconomic or linguistic disadvantages are all met. Overall, the book explores the challenges currently facing the sector, particularly with regard to training and professional development for practitioners, and the provision of appropriate materials in less widely used languages. Given the documented benefit of high quality immersion pre-schooling, this book fulfils an urgent need to increase the recognition of the sector. This book was published as a special issue of International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism.

Worldwide, more parents are opting for immersion pre-schooling for their children in order to benefit from its linguistic, educational, and cultural benefits. This immersion can be either bilingual or monolingual, aimed at early second language learning, or at language maintenance – offering minority language children mother-tongue support and enrichment. This book examines some of the key issues and policy concerns relating to immersion education in the early years. The term itself can be difficult in some political contexts, as can the differing outcomes noted by studies comparing monolingual programmes, and bilingual programmes for minority language children. The importance of training in immersion methodology for educators is discussed, as is the need to adapt preschool pedagogical practices to the immersion context, in order to provide optimal input for young language learners. One of the most pressing discussions surrounds differentiated provision – ensuring that the varying needs of children with language impairment, typical second language learners, and mother-tongue speakers with significant socioeconomic or linguistic disadvantages are all met. Overall, the book explores the challenges currently facing the sector, particularly with regard to training and professional development for practitioners, and the provision of appropriate materials in less widely used languages. Given the documented benefit of high quality immersion pre-schooling, this book fulfils an urgent need to increase the recognition of the sector. This book was published as a special issue of International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism.

Within bilingual education, more and more programs are adopting the option of immersion education, in which a second language is used as the medium of instruction. This volume illustrates the implementation immersion education in North America, Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa, showing its use in programs ranging from preprimary to tertiary level and demonstrating how it can function in foreign language teaching, for teaching a minority language to members of the language majority, for reviving or supporting languages at risk of extinction, and for helping learners acquire a language needed for wider communication or career advancement. A final section reviews lessons learned from experiences with immersion and explores new directions the approach is taking. This text will be of interest to teachers, teacher educators, and others involved in bilingual education.

Dual language education is a program that combines language minority and language majority students for instruction through two languages. This book provides the conceptual background for the program and discusses major implementation issues. Research findings summarize language proficiency and achievement outcomes from 8000 students at 20 schools, along with teacher and parent attitudes.

This volume builds on Fortune and Tedick’s 2008 Pathways to Multilingualism: Evolving Perspectives on Immersion Education and showcases the practice and promise of immersion education through in-depth investigations of program design, implementation practices, and policies in one-way, two-way and indigenous programs. Contributors present new research and reflect on possibilities for strengthening practices and policies in immersion education. Questions explored include: What possibilities for program design exist in charter programs for both two-way and indigenous models? How do studies on learner outcomes lead to possibilities for improvements in program implementation? How do existing policies and practices affect struggling immersion learners and what possibilities can be imagined to better serve such learners? In addressing such questions, the volume invites readers to consider the possibilities of immersion education to enrich the language development and educational achievement of future generations of learners.

This book offers a detailed account of the success of young immersion learners of Irish in becoming competent speakers of the minority language. The results highlight the limitations of an immersion system and will help immersion educators to gain a greater understanding of how young immersion learners learn and acquire the target language.

Language immersion is a remarkable educational opportunity in which young children acquire a second language beginning the first day of kindergarten. Students learn basic elementary school curriculum even though their teachers only speak to them in the language they are learning, not in English. Readers are encouraged to explore the goals, challenges, successes and lifetime benefits of immersion education through stories and statements gained through the survey of hundreds of former students, parents, and educators. The author helps us understand how immersion education not only offers students fluency in both English and a second language but also develops global and cultural understanding that positively impacts students as they launch into the world. Dr. Mellgren has over 40 years of experience in education with most of that time spent working with immersion programs as teacher, parent, administrator, researcher, consultant, and advocate. She shares from those varying perspectives to give insight into the full immersion spectrum. This guide provides information to help the decision-making process prior to entering an immersion program and then continues with insight into the first year of school, development through the elementary grades, and the transitions and in middle and high school. Experiences shared by students and parents encompass kindergarten through high school graduation, as well as the entire family's lifestyle. Discover tips for helping with schoolwork, assisting struggling learners, and participating fully in the immersion school experience. Immersion education becomes a gift to a child that lasts a lifetime. It impacts everything about a child's personal growth-brain development, social skills, academic advantages, and acceptance of individual differences. Young immersion students become adults who are adaptable and successful in an ever-increasing global world where understanding and relating to others is critical. This book will help you understand the language immersion concept, guide you in enrolling in a program, and then assist you in navigating the path through the language immersion life. "This book is a valuable contribution to the field and to every parent considering or experiencing immersion for their child." - Dr. Carol Ann Dahlberg, co-author, Languages and Children: Making the Match