The world economy has moved closer, and people are more closely connected. People are getting the chance to work with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds. As a result, the importance of learning more than one language has increased. Being bilingual enhances communication skills and makes one more perceptive of others. Also, it helps an individual in their personal life. Today, most students are comfortable speaking more than one language. Also, they want to understand the cultures and traditions of their classmates. As a result, the need for bilingual education has increased. More people are recognizing the importance of bilingual education, and school administrations are developing educational content that suffices the need for such education programs.
Importance of bilingual education
The need for this new education program has increased over the year because of the reasons mentioned below:
- The need for a bilingual workforce has increased
Today, every country is connected. As a result, the world is described as a global village. All these changes have enhanced the need for bilingual employees who can work in the global market. Gaining bilingual and multilingual education enhances cross-cultural competency, cognitive load management, and social intelligence. Moreover, it makes students more competitive in the global employment market.
- Helps in the development of cognitive skills
Bilingual education makes one use their language skills to the maximum. As a result, students are more likely to develop their problem-solving and creativity skills. Moreover, they also spend more time understanding what they can do to effectively convey their thoughts.
- Connects individuals to their roots
Bilingual education expresses the need to accept other cultures and traditions. As a result, individuals from different ethnicities feel proud and develop a sense of belonging. They connect to their roots and participate in community activities at large.
Focusing on more than one language makes students accept other cultures wholeheartedly. They understand the value of traditions and make an effort to accept them. Moreover, bilingual education is also critical for school administration as it helps them expand their reach as an educational institution.
Roles and responsibilities of bilingual teachers
The roles and responsibilities of a bilingual teacher are the same as that of a classroom teacher. However, they need to carry out their job role by taking two languages into consideration. The typical responsibilities of a bilingual teacher include:
- Curriculum planning
Bilingual teachers are responsible for creating a curriculum for students to teach them language and content simultaneously. They make the necessary changes in the lesson plans to achieve specific learning goals. As a part of developing the curriculum, teachers choose which concepts they need to teach in the classroom. Moreover, they also work on selecting the delivery methods that suit the learning styles and needs of the students. During the process of developing the curriculum, bilingual teachers give special attention to:
- Developing background knowledge
- Developing content that matches the existing background knowledge and culture of students
- Incorporating more than one language into learning activities
- Instruction
Delivering instructions is different from simply following a lesson plan. Bilingual teachers apply multiple strategies to understand if their students are learning the topic in the designated manner. Moreover, they make amendments in the teaching process to help students remain on the same page. They also provide the necessary support to students through various learning materials, study guides, vocabulary guides, and graphic organizers. They also review students’ performance periodically and understand the need for slowing down or speeding up a lesson.
- Development of culturally inclusive classroom
To make classes more inclusive, bilingual teachers need to put in more effort. They need to make their students understand the background of a language or culture. To make learning interesting, teachers can incorporate lessons on food, music, and literature. Developing a culturally inclusive curriculum helps students learn idiomatic expressions in their non-native languages, and they also develop cultural sensitivity.
The above-mentioned are the major roles and responsibilities of a bilingual teacher. They are the ones who can extend support to students and make them culturally responsive.
Education and skills needed to become a bilingual teacher
To become a bilingual teacher, a candidate must have the following expertise.
- Required education
Anyone aspiring to become a bilingual teacher must complete their bachelor’s degree. In addition, they can do a minor or a second major in a foreign language. They can also do certification courses in bilingual education.
- Language fluency
To become a bilingual teacher, candidates must have fluency in English and an additional language. They must have command over grammar, structure, syntax, vocabulary, and mechanics of two languages.
Characteristics of a bilingual teacher
The characteristics of a bilingual teacher are:
- Excellent organization skills
Planning bilingual classes requires more effort. As teachers review their students’ performance periodically, they need to put in extra effort when conducting classes. They juggle various duties like recording grades, assessments, and student projects which enhances their organization skills.
- Resourcefulness
Learning a new language may be frustrating for students. Therefore, bilingual teachers need to maintain students’ interest in the subject. Additionally, they need to develop resourcefulness and patience to keep themselves in sync with the students.
- Communication skills
To help students learn the concepts in detail, teachers also need to develop their oral and written skills. Moreover, they need to break complex ideas into simple terms.
Having these qualities make bilingual teachers effective in their tasks. By developing these characteristics, teachers can provide their best to their students.
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