The Daily Nebraskan – Zach Hammack
“Diverse and evolving Nebraska communities are driving the need for more capable teachers in world language and bilingual education. That’s why schools in Omaha, Fremont and Lexington have adopted dual-language programs to maintain academic standards for all types of students. Dual language programs are a type of bilingual education that tailor to the specific needs of both native English speakers and English Language Learners, or ELLs. In these learning environments, the student population is ideally 50 percent native English speaker and 50 percent ELL. Courses are taught in English and a partner language, like Spanish. Janine Theiler, the world language education specialist at the Nebraska Department of Education, said dual-language programs are beneficial for both native speakers and ELLs.”(more)