Bilingual education involves instruction in two languages. The key is that both languages must be used as a medium of instruction and to deliver curriculum content.

The goal of bilingual education programs is for English learners to build on their primary language and literacy skills to attain full proficiency in English in order to participate equitably in school. It is done through explicit instruction in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in all academic areas.

In a bilingual program, the non-native English speakers all have the same language background, and the teacher speaks both languages as a means of content instruction. In the ESL classroom, the students come from various language backgrounds, and the teacher only speaks English.