Rice researcher available to discuss benefits of dual-language education

Rice University
Office of Public Affairs/News & Media Relations

EXPERT ALERT

Amy McCaig
713-348-6777
amym@rice.edu

Rice researcher available to discuss benefits of dual-language education

HOUSTON – (June 3, 2015) – More than a third of students in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) are not fluent in English, according to a new survey from Rice University’s Houston Education Research Consortium (HERC) and HISD. The survey found that the best way to help these students learn English involves teaching them in their native tongue.

HERC is part of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, which published a blog highlighting the survey today. Ruth Lopez Turley, a professor of sociology at Rice and the director of HERC, said that while this dual-language approach to education might seem counterintuitive to some, native Spanish speakers have more success learning English when instructors continue to teach them in Spanish as well. Students enrolled in HISD’s “two-way” dual-language program (which includes instruction in both English and Spanish) had the best Spanish skills as well as the best English skills.

Turley said the findings suggest HISD should continue with its efforts to expand its dual-language programs.

To read the full blog, visit kinder.rice.edu.

To arrange an interview with Sandra Alvear, a Rice graduate student who conducted analyses of the survey results, contact Amy McCaig, senior media relations specialist at Rice, at 713-348-6777 or amym@rice.edu.

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