Raising Bilingual Kids In Colorado Language Programs That Work

In our increasingly connected world, raising a bilingual child is a gift that lasts a lifetime. Whether you’re fluent in another language or starting from scratch, Colorado offers a growing number of programs and resources to support bilingual families. Schools like Denver Public and the International School of Denver offer dual-language immersion programs starting as early as kindergarten. Kids learn core subjects in both English and a second language (usually Spanish or Mandarin), fostering true fluency. Local cultural centers like the Mexican Cultural Center in Denver and Journey Language Center offer weekend or after-school programs for kids of all ages. Hiring a bilingual nanny or joining a language-based playgroup (try checking local Facebook groups) can integrate language learning into daily life through songs, stories, and play.

Apps like Duolingo Kids and Lingokids are great supplements, especially for road trips or quiet time. Pair with storybooks and cartoons in the target language. Many libraries in Colorado even offer bilingual storytimes. Being bilingual has lots of great benefits for children and adults. Bilingual and dual-language programs are one way to help children become bilingual or to maintain their languages. Learn more from the resources below.

Colorado Springs and Denver were ranked by U.S. News & World Report in 2018 as the #2 and #3 best places in the country to live, respectively. In fact, people from all over the world live in Colorado, so of course it’s no surprise that 20% of the state’s residents ages 5 to 17 speak another language. As the population in Colorado and around the U.S. grows and becomes more culturally diverse, parents and caregivers of all backgrounds want to understand how they can help their children thrive, especially as it relates to learning two or more languages. We put together a list of the questions we hear most often about raising bilingual children, and we asked a bilingual speech-language pathologist here at Children’s Colorado for the answers.

Kids are actually born with the ability to learn more than one language and they do not become confused by learning more than one language at the same time. They may switch between languages if they are learning more than one, but it’s not a sign of confusion. Childhood bilingualism, or learning two languages at once as a child, does not harm communication development in any way. Language processing in bilingual children is the same as those who only speak one language. Bilingual children should also know the same amount of words and begin to combine words into phrases at the same time as those who only speak one language. There are many benefits to speaking more than one language.

Studies show that teaching a child a second language and switching between the two languages improves brain function in many areas, including mental flexibility. A result of bilingual parenting is that children are often better at planning, solving problems and staying focused than those who only speak one language. Every morning, students in the Early Excellence Program in north Denver start their day with a song in Spanish and English. Story time and reading circles also happen in the two languages. Kids are encouraged, but never forced, to speak both. These are some of the ways teachers at this highly-rated preschool try to give students a strong foundation in their home language as they prepare for school — something researchers agree is helpful for...

As the state prepares to roll out universal preschool, a new taxpayer-funded program starting in the next school year that offers preschool hours for free to all 4-year-olds and some younger children, officials have... The state will offer those children more hours of tuition-free preschool and is promising — for the first time — that programs will need to use teaching strategies proven to help multilingual learners. But with the launch just months away, big questions still remain about whether enough is being done to get the word out, what programming will look like, and what help providers will get to... Early Excellence leader Jennifer Rodriguez-Luke says the families she works with are confused about how to apply or if they qualify. She has assigned a staff member to help them through the process, but has had limited success in getting new applicants. Dual-language immersion programs in Colorado are designed to promote high levels of academic achievement through two-language teaching, bilingualism, and bilingual literacy.

Learn more about the best language immersion schools in central Colorado. Dual-language immersion programs in Colorado are designed to promote high levels of academic achievement through two-language teaching, bilingualism, and bilingual literacy. The DLS provides students with academically rigorous curricula, leadership skills, and intercultural competencies. We also incorporate the holistic child approach to education because we believe that all children deserve to be healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged. The purpose of the World Languages program is to prepare students to be linguistically and culturally competent in languages other than English. The ability to communicate in a culturally appropriate way with speakers of other languages is the key to success in our increasingly diverse global community.

Teaching is offered in modern and classical languages, along with American Sign Language. Approximately 80% of the school day is taught in the target language for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students. Dual-language immersion programs in Colorado foster bilingualism and bilingual literacy, as well as greater awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity. Dual-language immersion not only improves content development in two languages, but also literacy in both languages, so that students graduate prepared for university, career and life in a globally competitive economy and a collaborative... It can also be convincing for decision makers to see that students in an adjacent or nearby school district benefit from the opportunity to learn a second language. Sometimes, School Board members and school district staff can be convinced once they see a current program in action.

If you are looking for the best language immersion schools in central Colorado, there are several options available. These schools offer a variety of programs that focus on teaching students two languages simultaneously. The curriculum is designed to provide students with academically rigorous instruction while also developing their leadership skills and intercultural competencies. The schools provide a holistic approach to education that focuses on the health, safety, engagement, support and challenge of all children. The World Languages program prepares students to be linguistically and culturally competent in languages other than English. One of the greatest gifts you can give your child is the gift of two (or more!) languages.

Being bilingual is good for your child's brain, makes communication with grandparents and relatives easier, and is an advantage for finding jobs in the future. To learn more, see our resources for ideas on raising bilingual children here. This blog was created by two Latina moms who wanted to raise their children to be bilingual and proud of their American and Latino cultures. While the blog is no longer being updated, it offers great posts about raising bilingual families, recommended resources, expert advice, and lots of encouragement to parents. School readiness and school success for children who are dual language learners are tied directly to mastery of their home language. This series of handouts is designed to provide staff and families with basic information on topics related to children learning two or more languages.

They emphasize the benefits of being bilingual, the importance of maintaining home language, and the value of becoming fully bilingual. These easy-to-read resources highlight important information that every adult living or working with young dual language learners should know. In the ever-evolving landscape of early childhood education, the importance of supporting bilingual children has never been clearer. Dr. Cristina Gillanders, an associate professor in Early Childhood Education in the School of Education & Human Development at the University of Colorado Denver, is at the forefront of innovative projects designed to help preschool... Her work is not just about teaching; it’s about creating an environment that nurtures both languages, affirms cultural diversity, and equips teachers with the knowledge and skills they need to support this unique group...

Dr. Gillanders' current research focuses on teaching young bilingual children—specifically in English and Spanish—and how teachers can best support language development and literacy in both languages. Her approach is grounded in professional development for preschool teachers, helping them better educate bilingual learners. This work is part of a broader project funded by the Office of English Language Acquisition, with the goal of improving teacher professional development and ensuring that children’s bilingualism is preserved and nurtured in... “The classrooms where we are working are all English instruction centered,” Dr. Gillanders explains, highlighting the challenge many bilingual students face in early education.

“There is value to preserving the home language, but it’s not always formalized in early childhood settings.” Many schools in the U.S. don’t have formal bilingual education programs for young children. Therefore, Dr. Gillanders’ initiative aims to help teachers integrate home language support into an English-dominant classroom setting. Dr. Gillanders' research involves a comprehensive four-course certificate program for teachers, focusing on promoting homeschool partnerships, observing bilingual children’s development, teaching methods for bilingual children, and teacher inquiry.

What sets this project apart from traditional teacher professional development is its unique combination of online coursework with in-classroom coaching. This dual approach ensures that teachers can apply what they learn immediately in their classrooms, improving their teaching practices in real time. The focus on bilingualism in this project is critical, especially given that much of the research on bilingual education has historically focused on older children. “In early childhood, we use different pedagogies. The process of bilingualism is a bit different than what you find with older students.” Dr. Gillanders notes.

The nuances of how young children learn two or more languages, especially when languages are actively spoken in their homes, require a specialized approach that acknowledges their developmental stages and linguistic needs.

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