6 Things SLPs Can Do To Support Students in Dual Language Immersion Programs

by Liliana Diaz February 13, 2023 1 Comment

It's unfortunate to hear some of the following questions while working in the school setting, especially if you are working with English language learners: 

• Don’t you think X would make more progress if he just stuck to English in general education?” 
• X should just focus on English, it’s what he’ll be using in the real world anyway.
• X’s parents are just confusing him with both languages, he’s already struggling, why confuse him more?
• Do you really think X is a good fit for the dual immersion program? He already struggles in one language, why add another?
• Well, who’s going to fund that bilingual support staff person for X?

However, the reality is, these comments/questions pop-up too frequently and as speech language pathologists who work with culturally and linguistically students, we need to know exactly how to respond to them, advocate for our students and ensure that they are getting the supports they need. Bilingual speech language pathologist, Stephanie Rivera Cepeda provides some interesting facts and tips in case you're ever in this situation. 

The Bad, The Ugly, and Non-Inclusivity

As an SLP who has worked in dual immersion (DLI) programs, I have heard many of these comments in conversation, and received numerous questions like these from educators (SPED and general education).

We know that there are tremendous benefits for students who are able to participate in bilingual programs, however there are multiple issues that school districts often do not take into account, nor are they prepared to handle when working with bilingual populations. For example, DLI program administrators often come across challenges when working with students in special education; students who have more complex needs such as learning differences, are AAC users, have language disorders, have sensory needs, are autistic, have articulation disorders, etc. In my experience, these students have been removed from DLI programs because their needs could not be met (allegedly).

These types of cases promote non-inclusiveness which is often due to a lack of education, lack of supports for DLI programs such as understaffing, etc. the list can go on and on. Often times there are also misconceptions such as thinking that a specialized program (special day classes (SDC)) would be "a better fit for the student.”

In reality there are monumental benefits for our SPED and general education students alike. DLI promotes: metalinguistic awareness, cross cultural awareness and comprehension, social use of language, as well as exploration of cultural identity and belonging. Our school districts and administrators need to do a better job providing the adequate supports so that our students can also benefit from the DLI programs while receiving the accommodations they need.  

The Good

As we now have more research to support the benefits of bilingualism/multilingualism, we have seen a massive surge in dual language immersion programs (DLIs) throughout the country, and it is apparent how these programs are wonderful contributions to the communities they are in. There are now more opportunities available for our students to embrace and formally expand knowledge of their home language, or acquire a new one. DLI programs also have opportunities for extra funding by their district, the state, and through grant programs in order to increase the quality of the bilingual instruction for their students.

But what does this mean for our BIPOC, low SES and/or students in special education (SPED)? If a DLI program is structured with the intent of inclusion, there should be methods of instruction in place to facilitate purposeful and meaningful participation. Currently the method of "Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT)" within the Dual Language (DL) program, is what is most beneficial for students with learning differences (a large percentage of the students we work with in the school setting). In case you are unfamiliar with this approach, ICT is a classroom in which the general education and a special education teacher jointly provide instruction to a class that has students with and without disabilities. By providing instruction collaboratively between a general education teacher and special educator, students can receive the instruction with adequate support in place for their success. 

As SLPs, we can do great work in advocacy and educating/training in a variety of ways in order to also work towards a more inclusive model. Most DLI administrators and teachers (SPED included) are unaware of the fact that there are evidence-based methods of establishing DLI programs with not only SPED inclusion, but purposeful, strategic, embedded, support for this population. Becoming familiar with the teaching methods is one way we can be involved, however, let's review some ways that we can incorporate to work towards a solution! 

 

6 Things SLPs Can Do To Support Their DLI Students

1.  Advocating at the district level (e.g. speaking at school board meetings, educating and including the PTA, ongoing advocacy with district administrators, facilitating parent trainings/workshops, etc.)
2. Advocating at the local government level (e.g. speaking with city, county, and state politicians)
3. Advocating at the state and federal government level (e.g. lobbying for SPED inclusion, funding, rent regulation, etc.)
4. Educate and dispel myths to those who perpetuate false information around bilingualism and second language acquisition (e.g. inservice regarding general language acquisition, bilingualism, bilingualism in students with disabilities, etc.).
5. The SLP should be informed about what EBP states when choosing a language of intervention, as well as remembering that each student is different, and should be decided on a case by case basis.
6. The SLP should be informed about their districts bilingual program requirements, methods of instruction, policy, and law especially if it appears that their school does have qualified bilingual staff (Think of FAPE offers; most DLI programs are part of public schools).

 

Resources for SLPs to Share with DLI Administrators and Educators

Dr. Diane Rodriguez, an expert in curriculum and teaching ICT in DLI for SPED populations, compiled a list from Carrasquillo & Buttaro (2004) that identified eight areas that should be evaluated when selecting teachers for bilingual learners with and without disabilities (Rodriguez, 2016).  You can view the list and read more about this topic by clicking on this link:

Article for Bilingual Educators: Teaching ICT in DLI for SPED Students 

To learn more about Dr. Rodriguez and her areas of expertise:

Dr. Diane Rodriguez, Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Education, Fordham University

Celebrating Bilingual Special Education By: Dr. Diane Rodriguez

 

 

Special Thank You to this Month's Guest Blogger/Author:

 

Stephanie Rivera Cepeda is a bilingual speech-language pathologist based out of Los Angeles, California. She graduated from Portland State University with a bilingual concentration in SLP, and worked for the the public schools in Portland, Oregon for 3 years. During those three years, Stephanie worked in elementary Spanish/English Dual immersion programs, as well as their adult transition program. Through the duration of that time, she simultaneously worked at a skilled nursing facility, as well as a hospital in rural Oregon as a per diem SLP. There, she worked with many Spanish speaking outpatients and inpatients to address a variety of communication disorders, cognitive deficits, dysphasia at bedside, as well as modified barium swallow studies. Stephanie returned to California, and has worked in the public schools ever since. During the summer of 2022 Stephanie began to co-lead the Ecuador study abroad program for the Speech and Hearing Sciences graduate students at Portland State University, as well as supervise the virtual Ecuador clinical practicum, and teach asynchronous courses.

Stephanie is also the owner of Cotorro Communication Center, LLC which currently does pro bono consulting with low SES families in Los Angeles who are seeking special education services. In the future, she aspires to open a private practice specifically in the low SES community where she grew up in order to provide accessible services for bilingual/multi-cultural populations.

Get in contact with Stephanie here:

Email: scepeda@pdx.edu

Instagram: @cotorroslp

 

Sources:

Boyle, A., August, D., Tabaku, L., & Cole, S. (2015). Dual language education programs: current state policies and practices. Washington, D.C: US Department of Education retrieved on April 12, 2016 from https://ncela.ed.gov/files/rcd/TO20_DualLanguageRpt_508.pdf

Carrasquillo, A. & Buttaro, L., (2004). Promoting academic success through dual language programs: Easy steps for implementing and evaluating a dual language program for native English speakers and English language learners. Woodside, NY: Bastos Educational Publishing.

Cook, S. C., & McDuffie-Landrum, K. (2020). Integrating Effective Practices Into Co-Teaching: Increasing Outcomes for Students With Disabilities. Intervention in School and Clinic, 55(4), 221–229. https://doi.org/10.1177/1053451219855739

Rodriguez, D. (2016). Teaching bilingual learners with disabilities in an integrated co-teaching dual language program. Colorín Colorado. Retrieved from https://www.colorincolorado.org/article/teaching-bilingual-learners-disabilities-integrated-co-teaching-dual-language-program

Feinberg, L. (1981, March 1). Reagan Denounces Carter's Proposed Rules on Bilingual Education . The Washington Post.

Rodriguez, D. (2009). Culturally and linguistically diverse students with autism. Early Childhood, 85(9), 313-317.

Rodriguez, D., Carrasquillo, A., & Lee. S. (2014). The bilingual advantage: Promoting academic development and biliteracy through native language in the classroom. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

The Seal of Biliteracy. (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://sealofbiliteracy.org/

Stewner-Manzanares, G. (1988). The Bilingual Education Act: Twenty Years Later. The National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education, 6.

US Department of Education (ED). (2007, November 20). Executive summary of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Home. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://www2.ed.gov/nclb/overview/intro/execsumm.html

US Department of Education (ED). (2020, January 16). Developing ell programs: Lau V.

Nichols. Home. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/ell/lau.html

Valdez, V. E., Freire, J. A., & Delavan, M. G. (2016). The gentrification of Dual Language

Education. The Urban Review, 48(4), 601–627. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11256-016-0370-0

 

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