A Template Analysis of Teacher Agency at an Academically Successful Dual Language School

Abstract

Mainstream models of bilingual education view English language learners (ELLs) from a deficiency perspective and engage in the practice of subtractive schooling, which strips the learner of cultural capital that could benefit him or her in terms of educational achievement. Conversely, the dual-language (DL) model is additive in nature, seeking to add English to the student's body of knowledge while at the same time maintaining the first language. Evidence suggests that DL programs have the potential to foster both significant academic achievement and increased cultural awareness in the students they serve. Moreover, researchers have found a pervasive “culture of intellectualism” present in schools with effective DL programs. This culture is characterized by active engagement in learning, including the free exchange of ideas and the promotion of higher order thinking skills. As such, DL programs offer both language-majority and language-minority learners the opportunity to reach advanced levels of academic achievement. As with any educational program, teachers play a crucial role in the success or failure of these programs. Thus, successful DL teachers must draw from a variety of sources to make decisions about instruction in their classrooms. By building on Bandura's theory of human agency and applying it specifically to DL teachers, these findings can be used to inform the successful implementation and maintenance of new DL programs.