What is Dual Language Immersion?

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School is a proud member of the Boston College TWIN-CS (Two-Way Immersion Network for Catholic Schools). 

What is the TWIN-CS?

TWIN-CS is a national initiative to share dual language research, ideas, techniques and resources with the goal of supporting students in becoming bilingual, bicultural, and biliterate. The network's innovative design and programming enables students to maintain their language and culture, while systemically transforming schools from monolingual to dual language education.

What is Two-Way Immersion?

Two-Way Immersion (TWI)—recognized nationally as the most effective approach to bilingual eduction—blends native English speaking students with peers who are native in another language. With more than 20% of the U.S. population speaking a language other than English at home, multiple approaches to educating students with limited English proficiency exist. Typically, these students are provided supplemental assistance focused on English language development. TWI differs from such approaches in two key ways.

• TWI supports bilingualism, biliteracy, and pluriculturalism. English learners become fluent in both English and their native language. 

• TWI also supports bilingualism and biliteracy for native English speakers. English language learners are not separated from their native English speaking classmates, instead, all students serve as language models for one another, and they become bilingual together. 

TWI prepares all student participants to become bilingual and biliterate citizens in our increasingly global world, where communication skills can serve to promote solidarity and appreciation for diversity.

TWIN-CS Vision, Mission & Goals

VISION

We envision a dual language network where highly prepared leaders lead by example, where all educators feel part of a professional and spiritual community that shares a Catholic mission; a community that embraces all languages, cultures and diversity, that is committed to equity, and actively seeks that all children and educators find joy and their full potential; and that the students’ families be welcomed, respected and involved in their children’s education.

MISSION

The network seeks to support its dual language Catholic Schools, so these become, or  continue to be, equity oriented places of wellbeing for everyone, and strong Catholic communities that have clear goals and action plans to support students in achieving high levels of bilingualism and biliteracy, academic achievement, and sociocultural competence.

GOALS

Through systemic and meaningful professional development the network creates spaces for leaders and teachers to continue growing as Dual Language Catholic School educators. 

The network offers resources that support schools’ goals as DL Catholic Schools.  

Through periodic correspondence, the network facilitates information that is pertinent to the schools’ needs and goals. 

The TWIN-CS research team conducts meaningful research that will improve the schools’ performance in the areas of sustainability, sociocultural competence, and academic excellence -- including bilingualism and biliteracy. 

The network offers an effective platform where educators can share and seek resolution for issues pertaining advocacy and equity for bilingual learners. 

* Information on this page is shared with permission of the TWIN-CS network. Click on the image below to connect directly to the TWIN-CS site.