Karen beeman dual language immersion

Karen Beeman is an education consultant whose speciality is biliteracy and bilingual education. As a professional developer, Karen works at the national level providing training for teachers and principals and she also collaborates with the Illinois Resource Center.

A simultaneous bilingual born and raised in Mexico City, Karen is co-author, along with Cheryl Urow, of Teaching for Biliteracy: Strengthening Bridges between Languages, and co-founder of the Center for Teaching for Biliteracy, .

Q: What are the benefits of dual immersion programs for dual language learners?

Well, it’s not only about holding onto their home language and culture which is obviously important, but it gives students metacognitive flexibility — which is why we have so many native English-speaking students on waiting lists for really good dual immersion programs.

Our brains get wired differently when we’re bilingual. We have so much research that suppo