CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction The Benefits of Bilingualism Prepared for the Students and Faculty of Reedley College by Constantino Silva Bilingual Education Consultant Responsible Officer, Exchange Visitor Program California Department of Education February 10, 2016

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Objectives  Why be bilingual?  Current Research on the Advantages to Having Multilingual and Multicultural Competencies  Efforts of the California Department of Education to Foster Multilingual and Multicultural Competencies  Personal Story  Recommendations

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Why be bilingual or multilingual? How many of you are native speakers of language other than English? Current level in your first language How many currently studying/learning a second language? How many have lived in another country— and learned another language while there— for an extended period? How many interested in either learning a second language, living in another country, or both, in the future?

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction What does the current research say?  Patricia Gandara, Research Professor of Education, Urban Schooling Division of UCLA, Graduate School of Education and Information Studies  Ester J de Jong, Professor of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Bilingual Education, University of Florida

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction What does the current research say? Social changes have made being literate in two or more languages more acceptable Increase in  H.S. graduation rates  Entrance to college and university Advantages in  Cognitive areas, including complex thinking  Marketability  Earnings potential  Mental health

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction What does the current research say? Book by Professor Patricia Gandara The Bilingual Advantage: Language, Literacy and the U.S. Labor Market ◦ Co-author Rebecca Callahan, University of Texas, Austin ◦Callahan, Rebecca and Patricia Gandara. The Bilingual Advantage: Language, Literacy and the U.S. Labor Market. Bristol: Multilingual Matters, Print.  Changing U.S. demographics  Bilingualism is an asset  Being bilingual no longer seen as a problem that needs fixing  30 years ago the U.S. workforce did not value bilinguals  Today bilinguals are more likely to be hired than monolinguals

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction What does the current research say? Book by Professor Patricia Gandara The Bilingual Advantage: Language, Literacy and the U.S. Labor Market  Study done across ethnic groups  Spanish-speaking bilingual group more likely to attend four-year college if bilingualism maintained through high school  Conclusions: bilingualism enhances  Academic achievement  College aspirations  Employment potential

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction What does the current research say? Research article by Professor de Jong: “How can we support kids in learning more than one language?”, The Conversation, August 10, Web. The Conversation Media Group. January 17, Bilinguals:  are known to be flexible thinkers and better problem solvers  have a competitive edge in the labor market  show higher earnings  better to able understand diversity

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction What does the current research say? Research article by Professor de Jong: “How can we support kids in learning more than one language?”  Two-Way Immersion (TWI) Programs Benefits:  Teach content standards curriculum through two languages  General higher achievement outcomes  Across socioeconomic and racial strata  Increases in reading and math

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction What does the current research say? Research article by Professor de Jong: “How can we support kids in learning more than one language?”  Two-Way Immersion (TWI) Programs Benefits:  TWI students consistently outperform similar students in regular educational programs  Students report increase in understanding diversity and ability to collaborate with those of different language cultural backgrounds

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Efforts of the California Department of Education Foundational Data and Core Beliefs of the CDE  California is home to the most diverse student population in the country  Recognize and appreciate this diversity by placing an added emphasis on the effective learning of languages and cultures  The world is interconnected  Our students need to use language effectively across geographic boundaries in order to cultivate positive relationships with future clients, allies, and neighbors

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Efforts of the California Department of Education  Students need to compete and cooperate  Communicating with our international neighbors promotes peaceful relations, prepares students for employment, and enables our students to compete in the worldwide marketplace

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Efforts of the California Department of Education Initiatives to Support and/or Promote Multilingual Programs and Competencies  Dual Language and Language Immersion Programs  English Language Arts/ English Language Development Framework for California Public Schools  World Language Content Standards for California Public Schools  Seal of Biliteracy  California Global Education Summit  Longview Foundation  Visiting Teachers Program

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Constantino’s Story Emigrated from Mexico at age 6 Grew up in the Salinas Valley, CA Farm working parents No English at home Acquired English quickly Most of my friends were non-Spanish speakers Received support from the Migrant Education Program Enrolled in “college prep” courses in high school

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Constantino’s Story Graduated with all university entrance requirements met ◦ Only student in class to do four years of Foreign Language (Spanish) Attended Fresno City, briefly Accepted to CSU Long Beach the following year ◦ B.A. Political Science (1993) ◦ Year Abroad in Florence, Italy ◦ Minor in Italian Language Began teaching in Long Beach Unified School District

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Constantino’s Story Teaching Credential ◦ Multiple Subject ◦ Bilingual, Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development (BCLAD) Certificate M.A. Multicultural Education, CSU Dominguez Hills (1996) Other Work Experience ◦ Specialist, Migrant Education Program ◦ University in Mexico ◦ Teacher of English as Foreign Language and Spanish as a Second Language ◦ Director of the University’s Language Center

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Constantino’s Story Other Work Experience (cont.) ◦ Administrator with the Migrant Education Program ◦ Supervised the “Binational Program” in Monterey County ◦ Charter School Principal Currently ◦ Bilingual Education Consultant, CDE ◦ Responsible Officer, Visiting Teacher Program ◦ Teachers from Mexico and Spain ◦ U.S. State Department Exchange Visitor Program ◦ Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended ◦ Promotes mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Recommendations  Learn English as well as possible  Study advanced English and grammar  Provides stronger framework for the acquisition of a second language  Study a second language through to advanced levels  Will improve your English!  Immerse yourself in the culture of your target second language  Study or teach (TESOL) abroad  Spend most of your time with the locals!  Visit, spend time, or find work in ethnic enclaves in the United States  Teach For America!

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Recommendations  Seek out professional and personal opportunities to keep you connected, if not immersed, in the language(s) and culture(s)  Make YOUR OWN path! Two roads diverged in a yellow wood… I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference. “The Road Not Taken” Robert Frost

TOM TORLAKSON State Superintendent of Public Instruction Thank you! Constantino Silva Division Support-International Office 1430 N Street, Suite 4309 Sacramento, CA