DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: As the U.S. population becomes more diverse, schools are trying to cope with the needs of students who don't speak English as their primary language. CNN's Alexa Lee takes a look at one approach.</s>ALEXA LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Listen carefully to these young voices and you'll hear two worlds come together. They're part of dual-language immersion classes in Dalton, Georgia and Lafayette, Colorado. Across the nation there are more than 250 similar programs. Students dominant in English and students dominant in other languages -- usually Spanish -- are placed together in one classroom. Danielle Polasio's (ph) family speaks Spanish at home.</s>SUE SUGGS, PIONEER ELEMENTARY: It gives Spanish speakers an opportunity to be in an English environment and learn English. It also gives them a chance to be in a Spanish-language environment where they are taught, for example, reading and math in their first language.</s>LEE: For native English speakers like 6-year-old Leah Campos (ph), the classes help develop a second language.</s>LEE: In most programs, at least half the day's instruction is in Spanish. The students split up to focus on reading literacy. (on camera): The most comprehensive study on dual language classes determine that students can end up outperforming children in traditional one-language classes. Opponents argue, however, dual language classes can make it harder for some children to master English.</s>DAVID GERSTEN, CENTER FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: They're not helpful for the mostly Spanish kids that are stuck in those programs and, basically, used as tools for helping these other English-speaking kids learn a new language.</s>LEE: Regardless, the dual-language programs have become so popular most have long waiting lists. Alexa Lee, CNN, Dalton, Georgia.
Dual-Language Programs Cope With Diversifying U.S. Culture