New UC Irvine program to boost number of bilingual teachers in state

The University of California Irvine will begin offering a Spanish Bilingual Authorization Program this summer to help meet the state’s increasing need for K-12 bilingual teachers. The demand for bilingual teachers has increased recently as dual language immersion programs have grown in popularity.

In K-12 dual immersion programs students are taught in both English and a second language, helping them achieve academic and bilingual proficiency while also developing sociocultural competence, according to a press release from the university.

The program, which is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, is a collaboration between the university’s School of Education and School of Humanities. Teachers in California are required to have this authorization in order to teach English learners.

As part of the program students will work with a teacher in a dual language immersion classroom at Anaheim Elementary, Capistrano Unified, Garden Grove Unified, Magnolia, Newport-Mesa Unified, Saddleback Valley Unified or Santa Ana Unified school districts.

“In the last few years, UCI has become a hub for bilingualism studies and research in Southern California,” said Julio Torres, associate professor of Spanish and Portuguese and director of the minor. “We are thrilled that this includes the preparation of future teachers in dual immersion schools who will have gained the knowledge and experience to promote the development and sustainability of a bilingual student population in California.”