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By Julie Sykes, CASLS Director

A rapidly-growing context for language learning is K-12 immersion programs. In this setting, a balance between content and language is fundamental to success. While a focus on language is at the center of most programs, the balance with a critical need for learning content requires recognition of language variety and, at times, a focus on content over language. While long-term proficiency goals remain, a strong case can be made for intentional acceptance of ‘learner language’ in instances where competing cognitive demands might indicate a necessary prioritization of content elements.  As a wrap-up to this month on emergent language, we offer three ideas for working with ‘learner language’ as a tool for ongoing proficiency development.

1. Focus on skills for improving learner speech as related to content activities after the content activities are complete, but in ways relevant to the task at hand. For example, this might include asking learners to reflect on the language present in an assignment from the previous week by identifying patterns they find in their own writing. This comes after the focus on content and, in doing so, enables the learner to focus on one thing at a time.
2. Pick a language focus targeted at the outcomes of the content-related task and only focus on language elements directly related to that primary focus, ignoring unrelated errors. For example, in a language arts lesson on reading comprehension, a focus could be placed on errors impeding comprehension, but not those related to sequencing or word order, unless directly tied to the content being understood.
3. Articulate learning outcomes within and across grade levels to ensure a sequence that targets key elements at the right time in the program. This includes identifying which functions will be taught at which point in the program, as well as how those outcomes articulate across multiple years in the instructional sequence.

For more ideas for addressing language immersion programs, see Building a Successful and Sustainable Language Program: The Portland, Oregon, Mandarin Dual Language Experience at https://casls.uoregon.edu/research/chinese-immersion-research/.