Teaching Spanish and Bilingual Education
The facts:
- 1 out of every 3 Oakland students is an English Language Learner.
- In order to attend a California public four-year university, students must study a foreign language for two years.
- Only 35 percent of Oakland's high school seniors graduate with the necessary coursework to attend college. The numbers are even lower for students of color, low-income, and special education students, immigrants, and English Language Learners.
Our schools need teachers who will use their language skills to impact students' achievement and choices. In today's global economy, acquiring a second language prepares students intellectually for higher education, increases their earning power as adults, and broadens their cultural understanding. Fellows who teach Spanish and bilingual education will bring their language skills to ensure that our students gain the language and academic skills necessary to succeed in the classroom and in life.
What areas do Spanish and bilingual Fellows teach?
Oakland Teaching Fellows teach Spanish as a Foreign Language at the middle and high school levels in classes ranging from seventh through twelfth grade. Fellows typically teach beginning or intermediate Spanish. Fellows deliver lessons focused on language usage and structure. At the high school level, Fellows may also teach Spanish for Native Speakers, which focuses on culture and literacy.
Fellows in bilingual education classrooms typically teach at the elementary school level but may teach any grade level as needed. Fellows will instruct primarily in Spanish and will teach all academic subject areas including language arts, math, science, and social science.
Benefits of Teaching Spanish and Bilingual Education
Spanish is the second most widely spoken primary language by Oakland students and their families and is the most common language spoken by our English Language Learners.
Students who study a second language also gain skills that translate to academic success in other subject areas. Students become aware of the interconnectedness of all people and are motivated to learn more about the history, geography, and culture of the people whose language they are studying. Oakland's students are uniquely positioned to capitalize on our District's diversity and interact with native speakers of Spanish. Fellows teaching Spanish at the secondary level have the opportunity to inspire students to gain proficiency in a foreign language and to achieve success across all academic areas.
Fellows who teach bilingual education ensure that some of our most under-served students, our English Language Learners, can access the academic materials necessary to achieve at grade level and move us closer to closing the achievement gap.
Fellows join a network of educators across the District and are selected for their ability to foster close collaboration with other teachers at their school sites and resourcefulness for seeking out and implementing effective resources for their students. Fellows may also attend professional development workshops identified by their principal or coordinated by the District's Instructional Services department.
To connect with a Spanish or bilingual education teacher or Fellow in the Oakland Unified School District, send an email with your name, phone number, and question or request to observe to Connect@OaklandTeachingFellow.org. Current Teaching Fellows can answer specific questions about teaching Spanish or bilingual education in Oakland and/or schedule an observation in an Oakland classroom.
Questions? Email us at