The WCOE hosted the annual DLI Symposium. This was the first event of its kind in our area. We aim to bring students and practitioners together to collaborate and learn about best practices for Dual Language Immersion Programs (DLI) or TWI. In collaboration with our Spanish Bilingual Authorization at CSUSB, it will focus on Spanish programs since they are the most common in the Inland Empire, but not restricted to this language, as other partner languages are also frequent in DLI. In the Symposium's first edition, five workshops in English and Spanish were delivered from the perspective of teacher education faculty, administration, and classroom teachers. Our motto was "Equidad y Justicia" [Equity and Justice].
Strong partnerships must be forged between schools, districts, and universities to support the program's development and implementation in the Inland Empire. Symposium attendees are meant to encounter materials and resources, including specific language assets, instructional strategies, and learning tools. The Symposium serves as a platform for building connections and sharing ideas, creating a network of support for Dual Immersion Programs in the region. Ultimately, the symposium will impact the area significantly, fostering the development of high-quality bilingual education programs that will prepare students for success in an increasingly globalized world. The second edition is already ready to be celebrated. The second edition of this event will be on March 8th and 9th, 2024. The motto of the second edition is "Equity in Translanguaging." Coherent with the Global California 2030 report, the California Department of Education (CDE) has a brochure on their stance on the Benefits of Multilingualism.
The event brought together 135 passionate participants under Equity in Translanguaging. Teacher Candidates, DLI practitioners, and administrators joined faculty and bilingual education enthusiasts to advance the understanding of multilingualism and multiculturalism in the Inland Empire. Whether joining in person or via Zoom, attendees immersed themselves in insightful discussions and collaborative sessions on Bilingual Education.
The 2nd symposium was a resounding success, thanks to all attendees and student ambassadors' active engagement and contributions. On Friday, a panel of experts reviewed the status quo of DLI programs in the Inland Empire. A Keynote session and three concurrent workshops by Dr. Muñoz-Muñoz, Dr. Herrera, and Dr. Palmieri were delivered on Saturday. Dr. Solsona-Puig, as Chair of the event, and Dr. Tórrez, as co-chair, were delighted with the outcome and are grateful for the participation and enthusiasm displayed by everyone, which made this event truly memorable.
For those who missed any sessions or wish to revisit the discussions, we are excited to announce that presentation session recordings, materials, and other information are available on the event program link.
One highlight of the symposium was the presentation of a groundbreaking research study on implementing Translanguaging in Dual Language programs. Pre- and post-test responses revealed a remarkable 26 percent increase in attendees' understanding and approach to Translanguaging, indicating a significant shift towards a more knowledgeable perspective. Stay tuned as we work on coding the responses from Focus Groups for further analysis, part of an ongoing research study on the topic with the CSUSB IRB approval.
Furthermore, we are pleased to have offered the attendees the opportunity to earn 1 unit credit through CEGE for a nominal fee of $105. In addition to enriching discussions and research findings, we introduced two valuable resources as a novelty during the symposium:
We give our heartfelt thanks to all participants' involvement and enthusiasm. We are already looking forward to preparing for the 3rd edition of the Dual Language Symposium, incorporating your ideas and insights to make it even more impactful. Stay tuned for updates and announcements!
