Two-Way Immersion Network for Catholic Schools
the barbara and patrick roche center for catholic education
What is Two-Way Immersion (TWI)?
Two-Way Immersion (TWI) is recognized nationally as the most effective approach to bilingual education that blends native English speaking students with peers who are native in another language. With twenty percent 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. First, it supports bilingualism and biliteracy. In other words, English learners become fluent in both English and their native language, typically Spanish. Second, it supports bilingualism and biliteracy for native English speakers, as well. Specifically, English language learners are not separated from their native English classmates, but instead, all students serve as language models for one another, and thus become bilingual together. As such, TWI not only prepares all student participants to be bilingual and biliterate citizens in an increasingly diverse world, it deeply respects the minority language students' identity and family culture. The Two-Way Immersion Network for Catholic Schools (TWIN-CS) will provide an opportunity for selected Catholic schools to adopt a TWI approach to bilingual service delivery.
Goals of Two-Way Immersion Schools
Nationally, schools providing Two-Way Immersion programs have three essential, interrelated goals for students:
1. Academic Excellence
2. Bilingualism and Biliteracy
3. Cultural Competence
Mission and Vision of the Two-Way Immersion Network for Catholic Schools (TWIN-CS)
The mission and vision of the Two-Way Immersion Network for Catholic Schools is threefold:
1. TWIN-CS will continue to grow and enhance the strong Catholic tradition of academic excellence by establishing a network of Two-Way Immersion Catholic schools providing high quality education to culturally and linguistically diverse students.
2. TWIN-CS schools will enhance their commitment to Catholic education's defining characteristics of accessibility and social justice, which uphold the dignity of all persons, promotes deep respect for all cultures and ensures an attainable Catholic education for all families, by providing specific language immersion skills and cross-cultural experiences.
3. Catholic schools are shaped by communion and community and known for their capacity to foster trust, caring relationships and strong interpersonal connections. TWIN-CS schools will be genuinely inclusive school environments for all students, parents, teachers and staff, where lifelong learning around diversity is modeled and celebrated.
Please visit the following links for more information on the TWIN-CS project:
Goals and Models of TWIN-CS in the United States
Network Development Timeline
TWIN-CS, located at The Roche Center for Catholic Education of Boston College and supported by Boston College and NCEA, is committed to providing a cohort of 10-12 schools a comprehensive web of support over the course of three years. Innovation Institute faculty and practitioner experts will guide the design and implementation of the TWI model best suited for each school community. Each school will contribute a nominal fee for each member of their team to participate in the summer training, hosted at Boston College in June of 2013. Prior to this training, school teams will work with the faculty design team developing and implementing assessment tools for their school and reviewing current research based best practices.