|
Two-Way
Language Program
Waller Independent
School District
 The Two-Way Language Program is an innovative, research-based program designed
to teach both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking children a second
language in a natural way through subject content instruction and everyday
classroom conversation.
The
Waller ISD Two-Way Language Program is funded by a federal grant of almost
$1 million won competitively by the WISD Bilingual/ESL Department. When the
WISD program was started at Holleman Elementary School in the 2002-2003
school year, it became the sixteenth such program in the state. The program
was initially offered at the Kindergarten level, with another grade level
added each year through the fourth grade.
 The
program, which features regular academic subjects taught in Spanish and/or
English to English-speaking and Spanish-speaking students together or
separately, gives extensive exposure and use of two languages to those
students whose parents are willing to commit their children to the four-year
program. The program provides equal consistency in the use of each language
and the students are given plenty of opportunity to use the two languages in
real conversation and academic settings.
 There
are distinct learning advantages for students in two-way programs when
compared to students in traditional classroom settings. Two-way students
achieve greater overall proficiency in pronunciation and language skills in
the second language; they achieve as well or better in Language Arts; they
generally achieve higher scores in reading; they perform as well or better
in other subjects; they are more creative thinkers; and they have better
developed verbal skills. |
