Success factors for a Mandarin bilingual program

Abstract

Abstract Immersion-style bilingual school programs have proven to be effective ways for children’s acquisition of additional languages. However, such programs seem to be scarce across the world in comparison to the value people attach to bilingual skills and bilingual education. Through a case study of a successful Mandarin bilingual program in western Canada, the study hopes to explore the factors that contribute to the success of such programs in North America. The study points to the importance of government language policy environments, the attitude of local school boards, the commitment and active involvement of parents, and the availability and recruitment of quality teachers as key factors for the success of a bilingual school program.