As dual language and immersion (DLI) programs enter middle and high schools, issues of equity can be difficult to pinpoint and address within the logistics and constraints of the broader school environment. In this interactive, three-hour workshop, designed for both classroom teachers and administrators, we will engage in critical discussions about some of the challenges related to academic, linguistic, and cultural equity in diverse secondary DLI programs. Taking both program and classroom-level perspectives, we will explore research-based recommendations for policies and practices that equitably affirm minoritized DLI students within mainstream educational systems. Some topics for discussion include: program structure and logistics; student perspectives of secondary DLI programs; target language development and translanguaging; and differentiating for linguistically and ethnically diverse groups of students. Participants will have opportunities to reflect on areas of growth for their own schools as well as learn from the experiences and successes of others.
After this workshop, you will be able to:
- recognize common issues of equity in secondary DLI programs as found in recent research
- identify (in)equitable school policies and classroom practices that in your educational context
- generate ways to support minoritized students –and their languages and cultures – in your DLI program
Target audience: This workshop is designed for teachers and administrators in secondary (middle and high school) dual language and immersion programs.
Presenter: Cory Mathieu is a Ph.D. Candidate in Second Language Education at the University of Minnesota. She taught high school Spanish prior to her graduate studies, and she now teaches courses for practicing teachers in the Dual Language and Immersion Education certificate program at the University.