bilingual education
instruction in two languages, typically in one’s native language and in the dominant language of the country in which one is educated. In transitional bilingual education, as students gain fluency, they shift to instruction solely in their nonnative language, usually within 2 to 3 years. In total immersion bilingual programs, the emphasis is solely on second-language acquisition for both native and nonnative speakers. For example, in the United States, immersion programs are most often conducted in either French or Spanish and may include English as a second language learners along with native English-speaking students.