The city plans to open 29 new dual language programs in elementary, middle and high schools in September, according to alist of new programs released by the Department of Education. New York City’s public school students speak over 185 languages at home, as reported in the city’s recent Internal Budget Office audit of city schools, and there are dual language programs in at least a half-dozen of those languages.

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Dual language programs offer English speakers the opportunity to learn a second language alongside native speakers of another language who become proficient in both English and their native tongue. Ten percent of the city’s more than 150,000 English language learners were in dual language programs in 2011, according to the IBO.