Thread: Spanish, English taugh side-by-side

Spanish, English taught side-by-side

Geralda Miller
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
5/26/2003 10:35 pm

The Mariposa Academy of Language and Learning is the only charter school in Nevada where English and Spanish are taught to elementary school students.
Whether the novel concept works is unclear: Early results from a federal study validate the school’s methods, but an in-depth study has yet to be completed.

At Mariposa, there are two first- and second-grade classrooms, where students are placed based on a language assessment test given at the beginning of the year to determine their language dominance.

In one classroom, the student whose language dominance is Spanish learns math, science, reading and language arts in Spanish. English is taught as one of the classes. In the other classroom, the same courses are taught in English with Spanish as one of the classes.

There also were supposed to be two third-grade classrooms, but not enough students registered to support two classes, said Principal Aida Tadeo.

The idea is that the students will be proficient in both languages by the fourth grade, Tadeo said.

The first in-depth federally funded studies researching how Spanish-speaking children become literate in English will not be finished until 2005, about the same time the academy will have comparative results.

However, early results from the federal studies validate the teaching method.
“I do think there is evidence that, for the beginning grades, the native language does help these students to both learn English to high levels and the academic content they need to learn at each grade level,” said Donna Christian, president for Center for Applied Linguistics.

The agency, which was awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Education, is a private, non-profit agency in Washington, D.C., which deals with issues related to language and culture.

Three Hispanic community leaders opened Mariposa Academy of Language of Learning in August to show the Washoe County School District an alternative method for teaching students who were struggling with English as a Second Language.
“We liked this model because it is applicable for English learners as well as those who want their children to learn another language,” said Estela Gutierrez, one of the founders of the school and chairman of its board. Her husband, Jesse Gutierrez, and Bert Ramos were the other founders.

The U.S. Department of Education recently funded through grants more than a dozen research projects on the literacy development of Spanish-speaking students, said Peggy McCardle, associate chief of child development and behavior branch in the Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Previous studies had not looked at the most effective way for Spanish-speaking children to learn to speak English, she said.

“It’s the first time that the federal government has invested at this level with studies of this magnitude and I think it’s very significant,” McCardle said. “This is really big.”

Some reports will start to be released next year, but final results of the five-year studies are not expected until 2005, Christian said.

The studies were initiated in hopes of finding ways to narrow the achievement gap between English-speaking students and speakers of other languages, Christian said. The studies also were begun because of the increasing number of Spanish-speaking students — the same reason Mariposa Academy was founded.

The goal of dual-language programs is to be bilingual, Christian said. It is not just for the transition from Spanish to English, but also from English to Spanish.
The ideal teaching method would be for students from two different backgrounds to be placed in classrooms together learning in both languages, Christian said. Half of the instruction would be in Spanish and the balance in English.
“The goal is for everyone to be bilingual and bi-literate,” she said.

Christian said she does not label Mariposa as a dual-language school.

However, what is being taught at Mariposa is better than immediate immersion into an English-speaking public school, Christian said.

“Beginning their instructions in their stronger language makes a lot of sense,” she said. “You want to use what the child brings to school. You always play to their strength when you’re trying to educate them.”


http://www.rgj.com/news/printstory.php?id=43095

BILINGUAL TEACHERS K-6 - NV (Reno)
Posted 10/25/04
Closes: Ongoing
Salary: 27,907-40,755

Contact Information
Mail: Mariposa Dual Language Academy 3875 Glen Street Reno, NV 89502
E-Mail: 1. jamiethegreat@hotmail.com
Phone: 775-826-4040
Fax: 775-826-4030
Response Instructions
Please fax or email resume attention to Aida Tadeo or feel free to call.
See webpage: http://

http://www.teachers.net/jobs/jobboard/S ... 39.00.html

I really resent having Spanish shoved down our throats as though there is no other language in the world worth learning. Why not teach Chinese or some other language?

This is total BS. They didn't have bilingual education for my ancestors in Itialian or Gaelic.
Welcome to America!! We speak English here.

This is now happening at the elementary school that my children go to. I'm none to happy about it and not sure what to do yet. Hopefully they will be out before classes are forced to be bilingual.

Babaloo
Average Member



475 Posts
Posted - 11/24/2006 : 20:07:47
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What do you think? This is from the most recent edition of La Luz...the News Sun's free paper for Spanish speakers:

New bilingual program at Cooke School in Waukegan

November 22, 2006
By Ryan Pagelow
WAUKEGAN -- For the first time, Spanish-speaking kindergartners can enroll in a new bilingual program at Andrew Cooke Magnet School in Waukegan, an elementary school with a focus on fine arts and science.

The addition of the bilingual program could pave the way for a dual-language program in future years in which Anglo and Latino students would be taught in English and Spanish together in the same classroom, learning each other's language.

For now, the bilingual program at Cooke is starting out small with 14 students in one afternoon kindergarten class. Waukegan's other magnet school, Lyon, also has a bilingual program.

Arcelia Muñoz of Waukegan is happy her daughter Litzy can study in her native language Spanish while learning English. Her older son Ivan, a sixth grader, attended Cooke before there was a bilingual program. Although he scored average to above average on standardized tests in English to enter the school, he struggled in class, and never formally learned how to read and write in his native Spanish which is spoken at home.

In contrast her daughter is learning in both languages as a kindergartener this year.

"It's good the kids are in bilingual," Muñoz said.

To promote the new bilingual program, the school held a family reading night last Thursday at the school with food catered from the Mexican restaurants El Ranchito Michoacano and Tacos el Norte.

Guillermina Santiago of Park City, whose son Santana is in the bilingual program, brought some Mexican-style rice that she cooked at home to share with parents. She said she was interested in enrolling her son in the bilingual program at Cooke instead of her neighborhood school, because, "They say that this school is very good."

The idea for a bilingual program at Cooke started last spring and there was an extra classroom available in the afternoon, said Principal Linda Meczyk.

Looking long term, the school is exploring the possibility of starting a dual-language program, she said.

Coordinating the bilingual program at the school is Edna Vega.

"We started with five students at the beginning of the school year and now have 14 kids. We're hoping to expand," Vega said.

Emily Ruiz, a kindergartener, went to preschool in Guanajuato, Mexico, last year. She is excited to learn ballet as a first grader at the school next year, said her parents Ruben and Maria Teresa Ruiz of Waukegan.

"It's only been a short time in school, but she's improving well," said Maria Teresa. "She never wants to be late for school."

Registration for Cooke
Any parent who wishes their child to be considered for the 2007-2008 kindergarten class at Andrew Cooke Magnet School may call the school at (847) 360-5463 to schedule a testing appointment. In order to start kindergarten, the child must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2007. Applicants must be Waukegan School District residents. Testing will be conducted on Jan. 13 and Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon. Testing will be done by appointment only.
Any parent who wishes their child to be placed on the waiting list for grades 1 through 5 for the 2007-2008 school year may apply in person beginning Feb. 2.

An informational meeting for interested kindergarten parents will be held at Andrew Cooke Magnet School on Tuesday, December 5 at 6 p.m.

__________________________________________________ ______________________________________

My two cents: Actually, Ryan Pagelow is wrong - this is not the first time Spanish speaking kindergarteners can enroll at Cooke. They tried this a number of years ago and the translator promised by the distirct for the kindergarten class never arrived. The Spanish speaking students learned English instead and I assume have gone on through their education in English speaking classes. Gee, what a shame. Maybe they actually have a real chance at going to college when they graduate.

Notice also the lack of balance in the reporting - no input from English speaking parents or teachers on how this will effect the pace of learning in the classroom or whether they even want their kids to learn Spanish as a second language. He also labels all English-speakers as "Anglo". Come on, Ryan. Where did you go to journalism school?

And personally, I have advocated for Cooke and the integrity of their program in the past; my own kids went there and the district seems hell-bent on sabotaging this program. I don't see this as a good move for the district. The other kids enrolled at Cooke have always had to take a test to get in - will the same standards apply? Why not create a sheltered immersion program if they want to attract non-English speaking students?



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Edited by - Babaloo on 11/24/2006 20:23:14

http://www.waukegan.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5971

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:29 am Post subject:

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noyoucannot Wrote:I really resent having Spanish shoved down our throats as though there is no other language in the world worth learning. Why not teach Chinese or some other language?

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Why not Russian?
It look as if they`re dislexic, or they read from a mirror. At least their T`s are`nt backwards, or are they?


Я реально resent иметь испанский язык впихнутый вниз с наших горл как если бы не будет другого языка в мире worth выучить. Почему не научить китайцу или некоторому другому языку?

mk,

No kidding. I want to have the choice to choose my second, third, fourth...language. I don't want some people from a foreign country dictating that I'm going to learn their language. Heck no, this is American and we have freedom of speech and my speech will be spoken and heard in the language of America, which is ENGLISH.

Dixie

While it is important to keep English as the main language, I think that learning foreign languages in elementary school is helpful. I wish that I had learned Latin or Spanish in elementary school (the option typically seems to be available to the affluent living in the suburbs)--it would have been easier for me to learn them. Once either of these is learned, French and Italian are no sweat. This is just my opinion... though many here seem to be repulsed by the idea.

I learned Spanish in high school and college...but it was an elective when I went. Today's secondary curriculum unfortunately makes it a requirement...which makes alot of parents upset. Allowing your children to learn a secondary language is a benefit, but nobody should be forcing anyone to speak a language other than English in America.

If I worked in a service occupation and somebody came to me wanting something and they couldn't speak English...I would ask them politely to please speak English. Once it is determined that they are unable to speak English...I would cock my head around their shoulder and say, "Next in line please..."

The purpose of teaching our children to learn other languages is to broaden their opportunities and expand their knowledge. It's not taught so that people of other languages should expect us to speak to THEM in America.

I agree with that. People should not feel forced to do something they don't want.