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How the Dual Language Program Works

Dual Language in Hillsboro School District is a well-designed program that helps students become bilingual, biliterate, and academically successful in both English and Spanish. Here’s how it works:

Language Use by Grade Level: 50/50 Model

Our Dual Language Program follows a 50/50 model — this means students learn in both English and Spanish every day, starting in kindergarten.

Students receive:

  • 50% of instruction in English
  • 50% of instruction in Spanish

Instruction includes reading, writing, math, science, and other content areas. The languages are used in intentional ways, so students build strong academic vocabulary and literacy in both.

This balanced model helps students become confident bilingual learners from the very beginning.

The Three Pillars of Dual Language

Our program is guided by three important goals or pillars that support students’ long-term success:

  • Bilingualism and Biliteracy - Students learn to speak, understand, read, and write in two languages, English and Spanish. They become confident and capable in both languages, setting them up for success in school, jobs, and life.
     
  • High Academic Achievement in Both Languages -  Students don’t just learn a second language; they learn math, reading, science, and more in both English and Spanish. The goal is for students to meet or exceed grade-level expectations in all subjects, in both languages.
     
  • Sociocultural Competence and Identity Development - Students learn to understand and value their own culture and the cultures of others. They build strong identities, develop empathy, and learn how to work and communicate with people from many backgrounds.

Bridging: Making Connections Between Languages

In Dual Language, students don’t just learn in two languages — they connect them.

Teachers use a strategy called “bridging” to help students:

  • Compare vocabulary and grammar across languages
  • Transfer what they learn in one language to the other
  • Reflect on how language works

For example:

After writing an informative piece in Spanish, students might bridge by comparing key vocabulary or sentence structure in English.

Bridging helps students deepen understanding, transfer skills, and strengthen academic language in both English and Spanish.