Two Approaches to Balanced Bilingual Instruction

After reviewing numerous studies of bilingual education, Willig (1985) concluded that children learn best when some subjects are taught in one language and other subjects are taught in the second language. This evidence evokes the question, how should the bilingual mix be achieved? More specifically, how should the second language be acquired? (link to Study Help #4 and Self Check #4)

This figure illustrates two proposed ways of achieving the correct balance. One way to achieve bilingual balance would be to provide the child with initial exposure to the second language and then gradually increase the amount of the second language instruction he or she receives until the balance is achieved. The second approach, referred to in research literature as language immersion, recommends starting instruction exclusively in the second language in order to achieve competence quickly and then reducing the amount of second language instruction to achieve balance.