Today’s students want, deserve, and need to become bilingual and biliterate

I met Alexcia Garcia, a recent high school graduate from Texas, at the 2024 Educators Rising conference in Washington, D.C. We introduced ourselves and immediately connected through language.

“Hi, I’m Alexcia,” she said. “Encantada, Violet,” I responded. She swiftly transitioned to another Spanish greeting before we continued our conversation predominantly in English as more people joined. As a bilingual and bicultural young person, Alexcia showcased her sociocultural understanding as she masterfully navigated a conversation whose participants were mainly diverse professional adults. As we introduced ourselves and talked about professional interests — for me mostly current, for Alexcia mostly future — we immediately clicked.

Our conversation soon turned to Alexcia’s educational background. She recounted her experience in a bilingual elementary school within a border community where most residents were Hispanic. However, it wasn’t until middle school, while helping a newcomer student, that she recognized a significant gap in her academic Spanish compared to her English. This realization struck her during an assignment translating a U.S. history test for a Spanish-speaking student. “The epiphany that there were words I couldn’t translate from English to Spanish hit me hard,” she said. This moment sparked her determination to improve her Spanish vocabulary through dedicated reading, speaking, and listening practice.

The role of bilingualism in cultural identity

For Alexcia, bilingualism is a vital part of her identity. She shared a poignant memory from age 10 when she translated a doctor’s diagnosis for her mother. “Being bilingual and acting as a bridge between English and Spanish for my parents has positively impacted my life,” she explained.

Spanish, her first language, remains the key to connecting with her Mexican heritage and family in Mexico. “Language is the only way I can communicate my love for my heritage and enjoy my culture,” she added. This connection to her roots is something she deeply values and strives to preserve.

Curriculum implementation efforts that focus on standardized content send a message that English has to be the language of instruction and that students’ home languages are a hindrance to high-stakes achievement.

However, Alexcia has observed troubling trends in education. She noted a significant shift in her younger brother’s elementary school experience, which now emphasizes English more heavily than her own bilingual education did. “If you’re losing your Spanish, that’s the way you culturally connect with your family, the way you love. . .. Seeing schools not nurturing language is sad,” she said.

This shift reflects a broader trend where students’ home languages get sidelined in a misguided attempt at improving standardized test scores. Curriculum implementation efforts that focus on standardized content send a message that English has to be the language of instruction and that students’ home languages are a hindrance to high-stakes achievement.

Alexcia is concerned that the current curriculum prioritizes mastering English at the expense of bilingualism. She argued, “The U.S. is the nation with the second-largest Spanish-speaking population, and our school curriculum should reflect that.” This perspective underscores the need for a more inclusive approach to bilingual education, one that respects and integrates students’ home languages and sees them as assets to be built upon, rather than deficits to be remediated.

The benefits of bilingualism

Bilingualism offers far-reaching benefits beyond communicating in another language. Alexcia highlighted several advantages, including cognitive development and enhanced cultural awareness.

“Language is a gateway for people,” she explained. “Being bilingual allows me to connect with more individuals and understand diverse perspectives.” These benefits extend into professional realms as well, where bilingualism can open doors to broader career opportunities and enable more effective cross-cultural communication.

In today’s increasingly globalized world, bilingualism is crucial. Alexcia emphasized, “As we witness a new wave of globalization, bilingualism allows people to connect with and understand different cultures.” She sees bilingualism as a key to maintaining strong ties with communities and fostering collaboration across cultures. The ability to communicate in multiple languages not only enhances personal and professional relationships but also contributes to a more inclusive and understanding society.

A vision for the future

Alexcia plans to major in government and minor in Latino and Mexican studies. Her experience as a bilingual student has ignited her interest in education policy and advocacy and given her a vision that reflects that commitment. “I envision schools where students can continue to develop their bilingual skills throughout their education,” she said. She hopes to see support and funding for bilingual programs and curricula that integrate languages into the educational framework.

“I want to see universal access to bilingual education, even in areas where bilingual students are not prominent,” she added. This vision aims to ensure that all students, regardless of their linguistic background, have the opportunity to become bilingual and biliterate. Extensive research (Collier & Thomas, 2017; Porter et al., 2023; Sims & Ferreira, 2024) suggests that in strong, additive bilingual programs students not only become bilingual and biliterate but also benefit from long-term achievement gains in tested subjects that outpace those of their monolingual counterparts.

Advice for educators and policy makers

Alexcia also offered practical advice for educators and policy makers. She stressed the importance of building inclusive environments that support linguistic diversity. “Teachers should place importance on language support, ensuring that students who arrive with no English background receive the help they need,” she advised.

She also called for increased investment in English as a second language and bilingual programs, suggesting that policy makers should allocate resources to these areas and partner with organizations that advocate for linguistic inclusivity. “Policy makers should work closely with those on the ground to ensure that the laws and resources support effective bilingual education,” she said.

Alexcia’s experiences and insights highlight the critical role of bilingual education in shaping both individual lives and society at large. Her story illustrates the profound impact of bilingualism on cultural identity, academic success, and career opportunities. It also shows that today’s students know what they want and need and are willing to go get it for themselves and their communities.

As the U.S. becomes increasingly diverse, it is essential to embrace and support bilingualism in educational settings. By valuing and nurturing students’ linguistic and cultural assets, we can build a better education system that prepares all students for our global society.

References

Collier, V. & Thomas, W. (2017). Validating the Power of Bilingual Schooling: Thirty-Two Years of Large-Scale, Longitudinal Research. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics. 37. 1-15.

Porter, L., Vazquez Cano, M., & Umansky, I. (2023). Bilingual education and America’s future: Evidence and pathways. Los Angeles, California: The Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles, UCLA.

Sims, V.J. & Ferreira, L.Y. (2024). How ideology stifles equity: Analyzing the sociopolitical context of anti-immigrant rhetoric and its impact on culturally and linguistically sustaining pedagogy. In D.L. Rudnick (Ed.), Resisting divide-and-conquer strategies in education: Pathways and possibilities (pp. 71-88). Myers Education Press.

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This article appears in the Spring 2025 issue of Kappan, Vol. 106, No. 5-6, pp. 61-62.