The Enlightenment of US Bilingual Education Model to Ethnic Minority Preschool Bilingual Education in China
School of Foreign Languages, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| Abstract: | Two-way immersion (TWI) bilingual education, as a model of strong bilingual education with distinctive characteristics and a unique way of implementation, has been widely practiced in many multi-ethnic, multilingual and multicultural countries, such as the US, and has achieved positive results. This article summarizes and analyzes the implementation mode, characteristics and limitations of the TWI program. In the light of the local conditions of ethnic minority areas in the country, this article also puts forward suggestions on the trial implementation of TWI program in pilot kindergartens in ethnic areas: strengthen national policy support and ensure the vigorous development of preschool bilingual education; stabilize and enhance the quality of bilingual teachers; promote the integration of Han nationality and ethnic minorities as well as realize the sharing of high-quality educational resources; encourage Han children to learn minority languages; develop preschool bilingual teaching resources and facilitate the construction of preschool bilingual teaching materials; and foster a good family and community environment for preschool bilingual education. In a word, bilingual education plays a pivotal role in the long-term competition of the country bearing a special function of cultivating bilingual talents. It is undoubtedly a beneficial exploration and bold innovation to attempt to pilot TWI preschool bilingual education in ethnic minority areas of China |
| Keywords: | Bilingual Education; Two-Way Immersion; Ethnic Minorities; Early Childhood Education |
| DOI: | 10.57237/j.edu.2023.01.002 |
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Received: 9 January 2023
Accepted: 7 March 2023
Published Online: 28 March 2023
Funding
| 1. | 第十一批中国外语教育基金“新时代国际理解教育融入中学外语教学的实践研究” (ZGWYJYJJ11A088) |
| 2. | 2020中国外语教材研究专项基金“美国中小学英语母语教材与国内本土英语教材之对比研究” (ZGWYJCYJ2020503) |
| 3. | 2021年度天津市教委科研计划专项任务项目（外语教育）“新时代课程思政融入外语教材创新研究” (2021ZXWY-YB01) |
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