What is Transitional Bilingual Education?
Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) is an instructional approach designed to help students who are English language learners (ELLs) transition from their native language to English proficiency. This method uses both the student‘s primary language and English for instruction, with the goal of gradually increasing English usage as the student‘s proficiency improves.
Key features of Transitional Bilingual Education include:
Initial instruction in native language: Core subjects are initially taught in the student‘s primary language to ensure content understanding
Gradual transition: English instruction is introduced and increased over time
Support for both languages: Students receive support in both their native language and English
Cultural awareness: TBE programs often incorporate cultural elements to support students’ identity and engagement
There are two main types of Transitional Bilingual Education:
Early-exit TBE: Students transition to all-English instruction within 2-3 years
Late-exit TBE: Students continue receiving some native language support for up to 5-6 years
The goal of TBE is to help students achieve academic success while developing English proficiency, ultimately enabling them to fully participate in mainstream English-only classrooms.