Accelerated Dual Language Program

The Disciplined-Based Dual Language Immersion Model® has seven basic elements.  (1) All courses are developed and facilitated 50% in English and 50% in Spanish, allowing students the opportunity to learn the subject matter in both languages while improving their language skills. Only one language is used at a time, but students are allowed a sheltered environment where they may ask for clarifications and more information in the language of their choice. (2) All courses have language development objectives in addition to the traditional subject matter objectives. (3) All students take a placement test that insures that they are placed in language courses appropriate to the level of mastery of each language. (4) Students are required to take courses to develop their English and Spanish language skills to college level. (5) Students have free and open access to a computerized language laboratory where they may further improve their language skills. (6) All faculty and staff are bilingual to both insure that language is not a barrier to learning and service and to model bilingualism in a work environment.  The faculty and staff participate in an intensive development program that prepares them to function effectively in a multilingual and multicultural environment. (7) Courses are accelerated to accommodate the needs of students’ schedules by meeting only once a week for a period of four hours. Courses are scheduled mornings, evenings and weekends. Academic periods run every five or eight weeks. The accelerated schedule also facilitates that students register full-time, increasing their access to financial aid programs.    Only in its third year, the program has had excellent graduation rates. Already 35% of the students that started in 2003-04 have graduated. In June 2005, the first group of 32 Metro Orlando campus students obtained their Bachelor's and Master's degrees, becoming the first in the United States to receive a dual language university education. A total of 266 students have received their dual language degrees to date; 166 more students will receive their degrees in June 2008. The first two South Florida campus students received Master's degrees in June 2007; 32 more will receive Bachelor's and Master's degrees in June 2008.  Semester to semester retention rates have fluctuated between 80 and 85%.     Midpoint assessments indicated that students were achieving program objectives at a very good level, and achieving language objectives in both languages at a very high satisfactory level.  There was no statistically significant difference between English and Spanish in their achievement of learning objectives.