2. International experience in multilingual education | 143
ҮШ ТІЛДЕ БІЛІМ БЕРУДІ ҰЙЫМДАСТЫРУ
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ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ОБУЧЕНИЯ НА ТРЕХ ЯЗЫКАХ
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TEACHING IN THREE LANGUAGES
(3) Submersion («sink or swim» approach) is also targeted
at national
minorities and immigrants. In comparison with the previous model,
students are taught in L2 from grade 1. Teachers have only receptive
types of speech (listening and reading) of the learners’ mother tongue.
The mother tongue is only spoken at home. Gradually learners transi-
tion to L2 even at home, forget their mother tongue and become fluent
in one language (L2). This model used to be spread in the USSR and the
U.S. It is rarely used now as it is considered to violate the rights of im-
migrants, national minorities and demotivates the learners.
2.1.2. The strong group also includes three models [57]
(1) The model of language immersion is designed for schoolchildren to
acquire functional competences in two languages. Learners’ first lan-
guage (L1) in this case is the country’s official language. The second lan-
guage (L2) has high profile, prestige and economic importance in the
country. First and second languages are taught by different teachers so
that the learners know when to communicate in L1 and when in L2. The
teacher of the second language must be either a native speaker or fluent
in this language (C1-C2). When teaching L2, the teachers use only L2
without translating. As a result, learners are fluent in two languages. This
model is used in many countries (Canada, USA, Japan, Italy, Spain, etc.)
There are three types of immersion: early, medium, and late.
(1.1) Early immersion into L2 starts in preschool when children are
five years old. The learning process is organized entirely in L2 in grades
1 and 2. In grade 3, L1 is introduced as a subject, and in grade 4 other
subjects are taught in L1. By grade 5, the percentage of teaching in two
languages is equal (50%/50%). In some schools, teaching in L1 in grades
5 and 6 ranges from 20% to 60-70%.
Starting from grade 7 learners can select subjects they want to study
in L2.
144 | 2. International experience in
multilingual education
ҮШ ТІЛДЕ БІЛІМ БЕРУДІ ҰЙЫМДАСТЫРУ
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ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ОБУЧЕНИЯ НА ТРЕХ ЯЗЫКАХ
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TEACHING IN THREE LANGUAGES
Image 9. Early language immersion
(1.2) In medium language immersion the learning in L1 also starts
from preschool. In comparison with early immersion, learners are
taught primarily in L1 from preschool to grade 3. L2 is also taught in
preschool as a subject for 30-60 minutes per day. Instruction in L2 usual-
ly starts from grade 4. From grade 4, the balance between L1 and L2 is
equal most of the time (50%/50%).
Image 10. Medium language immersion
(1.3) Late language immersion normally starts in grade 7. By this time,
the learners have some experience in learning in L2 as a result of every-
day classes for 45-60 minutes from grade 1. From grade 9 to 11, subjects
are taught in L2 by learners’ choice.
20
30
50
50
100
100
100
80
70
50
50
Presch.
Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6
ti
m
e all
oc
at
ed
for
eac
h
lan
guage
, %
L1
L2
80
80
80
80
40
40
40
20
20
20
20
60
60
60
Presch.
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
time
a
llocat
ed
f
o
r
each
lan
gu
age
, %
L1
L2