​Nearly 350 educators from throughout Southern California visited the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) March 30 to attend one of the largest events in the state focused on dual-language education.

The Dual Language Institute is an annual event SDCOE has organized for the last 14 years. It provides an opportunity for dual-language educators to learn, network, and collaborate.

“This is one of the premier places to network with other dual-language educators and to keep up on the latest research and practices,” said Carla Herrera, a retired teacher who now works as a consultant for dual-language programs.

This was the biggest institute yet. When it started in 2001, there were only about 70 attendees. This year, there were nearly 350 teachers and administrators from 45 school districts in nine counties across the state.

The event featured a keynote speech from Dr. Kathryn Lindholm-Leary, a professor of Child and Adolescent Development at San Jose State University, as well as a variety of breakout sessions on topics related to dual-language education.

The goal of the institute is to strengthen the quality of dual-language programs throughout the region, said Nenette Adelson-Rodriguez, SDCOE’s director of instructional innovation.

“The stronger one program is, the stronger all of us are,” she said.

The institute is a way to network with others teaching in similar programs, said Qiuyu Li, a teacher at Barnard Asian Pacific Language Academy in San Diego.

“It’s a great opportunity to learn from each other,” she said. “I learned a lot.”