Final Reflection
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After two years and three action research cycles investigating transitions in Dual Immersion programs, there is still much to learn. Every new theme that has arisen during the process leads to fascinating and original threads of erudition, brand new doors that were gently opened for our collective enlightenment. The PAR team’s overall understanding of this enrichment program, the goal of which is to create fully biliterate and bilingual students by the end of high school, has indeed deepened and broadened, resulting in tangible benefits for every stakeholder involved. Students, teachers, parents, administrators, and the community as a whole have been reached in the process and participated willingly every step of the way.
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It is precisely these two concepts that would better define this final reflection: participation and process. Action research has been an effective method for improving instructional practices and student outcomes for decades, but the addition of the participation component to the research formula elevates its performance. The explicit design of actions through planned and intentional collaboration of team members could only have one outcome: universal improvement. Humans differ from other species because of their ability to build shared knowledge through meaningful collaboration. In addition, the second key concept of process embodies the idea of being part of a continuum, a system where many parts interact continuously. Resistances and impediments are part of an ongoing process that never stops, embedded in a shared context, in a societal structure that social researchers deem to improve. Indeed, we need each other to progress as a whole society, and we progress further when we collaborate in the pursuit of common goals.
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Even though the author of this report takes full responsibility of all content written and every action endeavored, the use of “we” throughout this paper represents the critical importance of the PAR team members’ actions, and praises the combined efforts and thoughts in accomplishing this report.
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Finally, the PAR process provided this candidate with a priceless number of leadership opportunities that inevitably lead to a sustained growth as a scholar, practitioner, and leader. All aspects considered, the overall impression of improvement of the TWI transition practices becomes not only certain, but also shared with many other improvements at the personal and professional levels.
