What are bilingual education theories?(4)

10. The Critical Period Hypothesis in Bilingual Education

• Key Idea: Younger learners may acquire native-like pronunciation more easily, but older learners can still develop high proficiency with sufficient support.
• Implications: Early exposure to a second language is beneficial but not mandatory for academic success.

11. Dynamic Bilingualism

• Key Idea: Bilingualism is not static but fluid, with learners drawing on various linguistic resources depending on context.
• Implications: Bilingual programs should embrace fluid language practices and avoid rigid separation of languages.

12. Ecological Systems Theory (Bronfenbrenner)

• Key Idea: A child’s language learning is influenced by multiple systems, including family, school, community, and larger societal factors.
• Implications: Bilingual education should involve families and communities, addressing both micro (classroom) and macro (policy) factors.

(To be continued)