Bilingual Pairs in the Dual Language Classroom

Training Objectives During this training, teachers will Explain the components of bilingual pairs. Evaluate the necessity of using Bilingual Pairs throughout the day for all content areas. Describe examples of BP activities. Plan for BPs throughout the content areas. Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Bilingual Pairs Components of Bilingual Pairs Necessity of Using Bilingual Pairs BP Activities in all Content Areas Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Bilingual Pairs/Groups Support Comprehensible input Increased verbal interaction Contextualized language Reduced anxiety Active involvement of the learner Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Use of Bilingual Pairs for Instruction High Medium Medium Low Bilingual Pair Teacher Does Not Answer Questions During Bilingual Pairs Learning Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Importance of Using of Bilingual Pairs Research has shown that techniques that involve student interaction: Promote student learning and academic achievement Increase student retention Enhance student satisfaction with their learning experience Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Bilingual Pair Activity @=7 &=4 $=8 Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Key point to CL There should be a pattern and flow to classroom learning – learn it together, have the ability to perform it alone. Traditional vs CL classrooms activity Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Bilingual pairs Bilingual pairs are not stagnant, but fluid. Using a pocket chart is recommended. Identify the list of students by color as stronger in L1 or stronger in L2 and paired up side-by-side on the chart.   Bilingual group consist of 2 pairs working in a group activity Bilingual group (2 pairs) learning in a group activity in math may not be the same pair or group during science or social studies or language arts. Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Bilingual Pairs Fluid and flexible Moveable Velcro Magnets Pockets charts Clothes pins Color coded Students have access Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Bilingual pairs chart Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Bilingual pairs chart Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Think, pair, share... Think about the bilingual pair chart you will use in your classroom. Pair with the person at your table and discuss what type of bilingual pair chart you use or plan on using in your classroom. Sketch your ideas on paper. Share your sketch with the whole group. Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Pairing Students Pair is based on mixed language ability; “learn together” with one assignment mixed language and content-area ability during whole group and small group learning mixed language ability for read-aloud, journal writing, shared writing During small group learning, pairs should “learn together” with one assignment Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

One Product per partner Students complete assignments with their partner using a one-product rule where students are asked to complete or create the assignment together; can use different color pens Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Benefits of bilingual pairs Increase use of academic language Involves student interest and motivation Creates safe place for student learning Develops autonomy Increase the chances that students will practice academic English and Spanish. Contribute to student interest and motivation and an overall positive classroom atmosphere;  Create a safe place for students to practice and receive feedback from peers, thus promoting oral language development; Give students an opportunity to learn by teaching;  Develops autonomy and students’ lifelong learning skills—they can self-teach when there is no teacher there to tell them what to do! Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Opportunities to use BPs Whole group instruction: ex.) turn and talk Guided practice Bilingual Pair Activity # 1 and Activity # 2 Independent practice (HOTS activity) Bilingual Learning Centers/Bilingual Research Centers Language of the Day Activities Conceptual Refinement Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Based on linguistic & academic ability. Entails personality too! Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Can be 2 sets of partners working in a group of 4 Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

~Large enough to be visible ~Easily identifiable ~Large enough to be visible Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Specific Opportunities for BPs Turn & Talk Paraphrasing Pairs Think-Pair-Share Write-Pair-Share Read-Pair-Share

Bilingual Pair Activities Turn and Talk Tell your neighbor; heads together Paraphrasing Pairs Restatement of what the partner stated Think Pair Share Think time is provided before pairing and sharing Write Pair Share Share the writing task Read Pair Share Share the reading task; stop to discuss reading Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Bilingual Pairs: Whole Group Pair based on mixed language ability Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved. Turn and Talk

Turn and talk: IDEAS Focus activity “Today we will talk about..” Tap into prior knowledge (what do you know) “Talk to your partner about what you know about….” KWL “Tell your partner what you want to learn about” Review “Yesterday we talked about…tell your partner what you remember…” Answer comprehension questions “Tell your partner the difference between birds and bats” Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Paraphrasing pairs Paraphrasing is the keystone to good listening and consists of a simple restatement of what our partner, the teacher, or somebody else said (Johnson & Johnson, 1998). Frequent stops to check for comprehension Helps L2 learners with connected discourse Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Think Pair Share Think Pair Share (Lyman, 1981) Consistently provides sufficient wait time for students to formulate an answer and provide a clearer response than if the teacher had just asked the question and immediately called on someone In early stages of L2 acquisition Ss will translate in their head Be sure to provide the ‘think’ time prior to having students share Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Advantages for teachers It's quick; it doesn't take much preparation time It engages the entire class It supports oral language development and vocabulary building Teachers can ask different levels of questions: literal, inferential, open-ended assess student understanding by listening in on several groups during the activity and by collecting responses at the end Engagement leads to higher levels of learning Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Advantages for students Allows quiet students to answer questions in a smaller setting. Students can encourage and support each other in their language use. Students can use language in real life functional interactions as they reinforce academic language. Promotes conversations and supports connected discourse Students can assess their classmates responses and compare them with their own. Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Write Pair Share Students can talk about what they are going to write. Students can share the pen Share the writing after they are done. Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Students writing in bilingual pairs Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Read pair share Take turn reading sections of the text. Stop and summarize OR discuss. Create and ask each other open-ended questions Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Let’s Reflect on Bilingual Pairs What were some of the benefits of using Bilingual Pairs? When are some opportunities to use Bilingual Pairs? What are some examples of these opportunities throughout instruction? Copyright © 2013-Dual Language Training Institute. All Rights Reserved.