B³ Course Designation

We embrace a dynamic view of bilingualism, and we appreciate that each bilingual course will look different. Below are some ideas of how you might integrate Spanish and English into your instruction, course content and materials, and student assignments. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your course, please contact us at bilingualintegration@utrgv.edu 

1. Instruction: Provide lectures and instruction in Spanish.
   • The expectation is that you will lecture entirely in Spanish for this course.
   • Other types of instruction such as activities, discussion questions, videos, and modules should similarly be in Spanish.
2. Content/Materials: Provide course content and materials in Spanish whenever possible.
   • Provide instructions, exams, assignment sheets, and other course materials in Spanish.
   • If your course has a pre-determined textbook that is in English, provide some additional supplementary reading materials in Spanish.
   • The Office for Bilingual Integration will facilitate connections with library resources, or you may communicate directly with your academic area library liaison. Find your library liaison here.
3. Demonstrations of Learning (Student Work): All students in the course must produce oral and written Spanish through activities and/or assignments.
   • All written assignments should be submitted in Spanish, including exams, assignments, and other written student demonstrations of learning. The professor does not need to correct grammar or accents. Instead, as usual, they may grade for content.
   • Spoken Spanish should include class discussions, presentations, videos, or other demonstrations of learning through spoken Spanish. Similarly, the instructor may grade for content.

For your course to be designated as a Spanish language course, you will complete a short application, including the following:

1. CV
2. Responder en español a las siguientes preguntas:
   • ¿Por qué debería impartirse esta materia en español? ¿Cómo se beneficiarán los estudiantes de que esta materia se imparta en español? 
   • ¿De qué manera se representará el español en 1) la instrucción, 2) los contenidos/materiales, y 3) las demostraciones de aprendizaje (trabajo estudiantil)?
3. Syllabus
   • The syllabus should be in Spanish or made available in both English and Spanish (Contact Translation & Interpreting Office at   tio@utrgv.edu to translate to Spanish)
   • The syllabus should include a short description of why this course is being taught in Spanish.
   • The syllabus should explain clearly how Spanish will be used in instruction, content/materials, and assignments/activities.
   • The syllabus should invite students to pursue the B3 Scholar Seal, the following statement should be included in the syllabus:
     • By taking this course, you are on your way to becoming a B3 Scholar and receiving the B3 Scholar Seal upon graduation. Learn more about the B3 Scholar Seal and its requirements and fill out the short Intent to Pursue the B3 Scholar Seal form so that the Office for Bilingual Integration may help you achieve this recognition.
   • Bilingual Language Profile - This short form allows us to keep a record of instructors’ language background and experiences for accreditation purposes.

Upon approval of your application, we will schedule a brief bilingual meeting to discuss teaching your course in Spanish and how we can support you in doing so. This meeting will be waived if you have gone through a B3 Course Designation Workshop or if this course is a part of the Spanish program, Bilingual Education program, or Translation & Interpreting programs.

Submit your application here.

We embrace a dynamic view of bilingualism, and we appreciate that each bilingual course will look different. Below are some ideas of how you might integrate Spanish and English into your instruction, course content and materials, and student assignments. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your course, please contact us at bilingualintegration@utrgv.edu

1. Instruction: Provide lectures and instruction in Spanish and English.
   • You may lecture entirely in Spanish, or you may lecture every other day in Spanish. You may also lecture half of the class in Spanish.
   • Other types of instruction such as activities, discussion questions, videos, and modules should similarly include both languages.
2. Content/Materials: Provide course content and materials in Spanish and English whenever possible.
   • Provide instructions, exams, assignment sheets, and other course materials in both languages.
   • If your course has a pre-determined textbook in English, provide some additional supplementary materials in Spanish.
   • B3 Institute will facilitate connections with library resources, or you may communicate directly with your academic area library liaison. Find your library liaison Find your library liaison here.
3. Demonstrations of Learning (Student Work): All students in the course must produce oral and written Spanish through activities and/or assignments at some point.
   • Written assignments may be low stakes assignments, such as reflections, journals, and/or discussion boards. If desired, the professor may also include larger written assignments such as papers or reports. The professor does not need to correct grammar or accents. Instead, as usual, they may grade for content.
   • Spoken Spanish may include class discussions, presentations, videos, or other demonstrations of learning through spoken Spanish. Similarly, these may be low stakes assignments, and the instructor may grade for content.

Sample Syllabus for Bilingual Course  

To have your course designated as bilingual (X), you will complete a short application, including the following:

1. CV
2. Responder en español a las siguientes preguntas:
   • ¿Por qué debería impartirse esta materia en formato bilingüe? ¿Cómo se beneficiarán los estudiantes de que esta materia se imparta en formato bilingüe?
   • ¿De qué manera se representarán ambas lenguas en la materia?
   • ¿De qué manera se representará el español en 1) la instrucción, 2) los contenidos/materiales, y 3) las demostraciones de aprendizaje (trabajo estudiantil)?
3. Syllabus
   • The syllabus should be bilingual or made available in both English and Spanish (Contact Translation & Interpreting Office at tio@utrgv.edu to translate to Spanish)
   • The syllabus should include a short bilingual teaching philosophy statement, see Example of a syllabus
   • The syllabus should explain clearly how Spanish and English will be used in instruction, content/materials, and assignments/activities, Example of a syllabus
   • The syllabus should invite students to pursue the B3 Scholar Seal, the following statement should be included in the syllabus:
     • By taking this course, you are on your way to becoming a B3 Scholar and receiving the B3 Scholar Seal upon graduation. Learn more about the B3 Scholar Seal and its requirements and fill out the short Intent to Pursue the B3 Scholar Seal form so that the Office for Bilingual Integration may help you achieve this recognition.
   • Bilingual Language Profile - This short form allows us to keep a record of instructors’ language background and experiences for accreditation purposes.

Upon approval of your application, we will schedule a brief bilingual meeting to discuss teaching your course in Spanish and how we can support you in doing so. This meeting will be waived if you have gone through a B3 Course Designation Workshop or if this course is a part of the Spanish program, Bilingual Education program, or Translation & Interpreting programs.

Submit your application here.

We appreciate that CSP will look different in each course. Below are some ideas of how you might integrate relevant pedagogy into your instruction, course content and materials, and student assignments. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your course, please contact us at bilingualintegration@utrgv.edu

1. Instruction: Integrate relevant material into course instruction in a way that develops students’ advocacy perspective.
   • This may include lectures, course topics, activities, discussion questions, videos, and modules related to Mexican American culture which integrate a social justice perspective.
2. Content/Materials: Integrate relevant borderland experiences content in a way that reflect students’ experiences into the course.
   • Integrate CSP content into your readings, videos, and other course materials.
   • If your course has a pre-determined textbook without much or any CSP content, provide some additional supplementary materials that integrate culturally sustaining content into the course.
   • The Office for Bilingual Integration will facilitate connections with library resources, or you may communicate directly with your academic area library liaison. Find your library liaison here.
3. Demonstrations of Learning (Student Work): Develop activities and/or assignments that integrate CSP.
   • These assignments may vary widely. Options include but are not limited to reflections, journals, discussion boards, papers/essays, class discussions, presentations, videos, posters, community engaged scholarship or service learning activities.

To receive the CSP Designation, you will complete a short application, including the following:

1. CV
2. Please answer the following questions on your interest/plans for integrating CSP in your course:
   • Why should this course be taught with CSP?
   • How will CSP be represented in the course? How will CSP be represented in 1) instruction, 2) content/materials, and 3) demonstration of learning (student work)?
3. Syllabus
   • The syllabus should include a short statement on CSP
   • The syllabus should clearly demonstrate how CSP will be used in instruction, content/materials, and/or assignments/activities.
   • The syllabus should invite students to pursue the B3 Scholar Seal, the following statement should be included in the syllabus:
   • The syllabus should invite students to pursue the B3 Scholar Seal, the following statement should be included in the syllabus:
     • By taking this course, you are on your way to becoming a B3 Scholar and receiving the B3 Scholar Seal upon graduation. Learn more about the B3 Scholar Seal and its requirements and fill out the short Intent to Pursue the B3 Scholar Seal form so that the Office for Bilingual Integration may help you achieve this recognition.

Upon approval of your application, we will schedule a brief bilingual meeting to discuss teaching your course in Spanish and how we can support you in doing so. This meeting will be waived if you have gone through a B3 Course Designation Workshop or if this course is a part of the Spanish program, Bilingual Education program, or Translation & Interpreting programs.

Submit your application here.

• "What is CSP?" Handout
• CSP Module

We embrace a dynamic view of bilingualism, and we appreciate that flexible bilingual pedagogy will look different in each course. Below are some ideas of how you might integrate Spanish and English into your instruction, course content and materials, and student assignments. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your course, please contact us at bilingualintegration@utrgv.edu

1. Instruction: You may provide lectures and instruction bilingually or in Spanish and/or English.
   • You may choose to lecture in Spanish or bilingually in certain classes or for certain topics. The amount of Spanish/English/bilingual instruction is up to you, but it should be intentional and purposeful.
   • Other types of instruction such as activities, discussion questions, videos, and modules may include both languages. This is at the discretion of the professor.
2. Content/Materials: You may provide course content and materials in Spanish, English, or bilingually.
   • You may provide instructions, exams, assignment sheets, and other course materials in Spanish, English or bilingual modes.
   • If your course has a pre-determined textbook in English, you may choose to provide some additional supplementary materials in Spanish or bilingual modes.
   • The Office for Bilingual Integration will facilitate connections with library resources, or you may communicate directly with your academic area library liaison. Find your library liaison here.
3. Demonstrations of Learning (Student Work): You may encourage students in the course to produce oral and written Spanish by allowing them the option to participate in activities and submit assignments in Spanish or English. This is not a requirement; it is optional.
   • You may encourage students to participate in class discussions or other spoken assignments in Spanish. Please consider modelling and encouraging Spanish language use, as it will result in students feeling more comfortable to use their full linguistic repertoire.
   • You may allow students to submit written assignments in Spanish or English. These written assignments may be low stakes assignments, such as reflections, journals, and/or discussion boards. If desired, you may also include larger written assignments such as papers or reports. You do not need to correct grammar or accents. Instead, as usual, you may grade for content.
   • You may encourage students to speak in Spanish and/or English in class discussions, presentations, videos, or other demonstrations of learning. Similarly, these may be low stakes assignments, and the instructor may grade for content.

Sample Syllabus for Course with Bilingual Pedagogy

To receive the Flexible Bilingual Pedagogy Endorsement, you will complete a short application, including the following:

1. CV
2. Please answer the following questions on your interest/plans for integrating flexible bilingual pedagogy in your course:
   • Why should this course be taught bilingually? How will students benefit from the course being taught bilingually?
   • How will both languages be represented in the course? How will Spanish be represented in instruction, content/materials, and/or demonstration of learning (student work)?
3. Syllabus
   • The syllabus should include a short bilingual pedagogy statement
   • The syllabus should explain clearly how bilingual pedagogies will be used in instruction, content/materials, and assignments/activities
   • Optional: The syllabus may be bilingual or made available in both English and Spanish (Contact Translation & Interpreting Office at tio@utrgv.edu  to translate to Spanish)

Submit your application here.