Bilingual Education Pedagogy Flashcards

BICS stands for Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills. Approximately how long does it take English learners to develop BICS?

Answer: 6 months to 2 years

BICS, or conversational language, typically develops within 6 months to 2 years, much faster than academic language proficiency (CALP).

Which policy framework governs bilingual education requirements for Texas public schools?

Answer: Texas Education Code (TEC) Chapter 29

Texas Education Code Chapter 29 specifically mandates bilingual education and ESL programs in Texas public schools.

What is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and how does it apply to bilingual instruction?

Answer: The gap between what a student can do alone and what they can do with support, guiding instructional scaffolding

Vygotsky's ZPD identifies the learning zone where targeted instruction and scaffolding have the most impact on bilingual students' development.

In a late-exit (developmental) bilingual program, students typically receive native language instruction:

Answer: Through 5th or 6th grade or beyond

Late-exit programs maintain native language instruction through 5th or 6th grade or beyond, promoting stronger academic and linguistic outcomes.

A bilingual teacher wants to activate students' prior knowledge before reading a Spanish text. Which strategy is most appropriate?

Answer: Using a KWL chart in Spanish to connect new content to what students already know

A KWL chart (Know, Want to know, Learned) activates prior knowledge and sets a purpose for reading, supporting comprehension in both languages.

What is the purpose of language allocation policy in a bilingual program?

Answer: To specify which language(s) will be used for instruction in each subject and at each grade level

Language allocation policy ensures intentional, consistent language use across subjects and grades to support balanced bilingual development.