Thursday, July 28, 2011

The Case for Spanish

There has been a lot of discussion as to 'why' the Salinas City Elementary School District has not chosen a more critically needed language, such as Mandarin for their  dual language immersion programs. The answer is simple: there aren't enough elementary aged, fluent Mandarin speakers in the Salinas community to qualify for a dual language program. However, a one-way Mandarin immersion program could be possible. (click here to read about the differences between dual, or two-way, immersion programs and one-way immersion programs). Perhaps this will happen in the future, if enough parents express interest in such a program and there is a suitable school site to house the program.  Something to think about....

The case for why SCESD has chosen Spanish as the target language for their three dual language programs is just as easily explained. To begin, Salinas is home to an abundance of native Spanish speakers. By learning Spanish, English speaking children will gain a better cultural understanding of the Spanish speaking community. In addition, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world and according to www.spanishlanguageguide.com it is likely to remain firmly in the No. 2 spot for years to come. And, probably the most compelling reason, Spanish improves the understanding of English (for native English speakers). Much of the vocabulary of English has Latin origins. Since Spanish is also a Latin language, learning Spanish will allow the English speaker a better understanding of their native vocabulary. Similarly, both Spanish and English share Indo-European roots, so their grammars are similar. There is perhaps no more effective way to learn English grammar than by studying the grammar of another language.

The good news for Spanish/English dual language program parents who want their children to acquire a "critical needs language" is that science indicates that bilingual/multilingual people acquire additional languages more easily than their monolingual peers.  Hence, students that go through a dual language program are more likely to easily acquire a third language. (click this link for specific research details).

Regardless of which language is your preference, the bottom line is that learning a second language enriches one's life intellectually, culturally, economically, socially, and so on...

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Lincoln Elementary DLP gets a third class for 2011-2012

In addition to one first grade dual language and one kinder dual language class for 2011-2012, Lincoln Elementary School is now hiring a third teacher for a dual language kinder/1st combo class.

Go to lincolndlp.blogspot.com for more info.

Congratulations to Lincoln and to Salinas City Elementary School District!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Rhodel Island to launch revolutionary trilingual immersion curriculum for preschoolers

According to a press release posted on PBN.com, Rhode Island's Federal Hill House Association (FHHA), a non profit human service agency, will begin a revolutionary trilingual immersion curriculum for their preschool/daycare and early school age programs this fall. Children in their programs will learn English, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. DLPA will follow the progress of their programs and report back here on what we learn. We hope this will inspire Californians to start similar multilingual programs.

Click here to read the entire press release...

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

NEWS- Call your California Senator today (July 5th by 4pm PST) to show support of AB 409

TODAY is the deadline for calling your Senator to show support of AB 409!
SUPPORT DUAL IMMERSION PROGRAMS USE OF THE SPANISH STANDARDS TEST FOR ALL STUDENTS

To Be Heard on Wednesday, July 6, 2011

CALLS MUST BE MADE BY 4:00 P.M. TUESDAY, July 5th, 2011

If you live or work in any of the cities below, please make phone calls by Tuesday, July 5th at 4:00 p.m. to your Senator to support the passage of AB 409 (Alejo)


AB 409 (Alejo) - Spanish Standards Test and Dual Immersion Programs - In addition to English learners, this bill would allow students who are English Only (in the DLP) to take the primary language test at the choice of the district and at the expense of the school district.  The passage of this bill will allow schools/district to have one consistent measure of Spanish achievement in Dual Language Programs.  Call today!!!

Senator Sam Blakeslee (R 15-San Luis Obispo)  916-651-4015
Counties: Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara (p)
Main Cities: San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Scotts Valley, Carmel Valley, Carmel, Morgan Hill, Morro Bay, Santa Maria


Senator Alan Lowenthal (D 27-Long Beach)  916-651-4027
Counties: Los Angeles
Main  Cities: Artesia, Avalon, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Lynwood, Paramount, Signal Hill, South-Gate, Florence-Graham, Willowbrook



Senator Sharon Runner (R 17-Antelope Valley)    916-651-4017
Counties: Kern (p),Los Angeles (p), San Bernardino (p),Ventura (p),
Main Cities: Lancaster, Palmdale, Santa Clarita, Apple Valley, Hesperia, Victorville, Fillmore, Santa Paula, Los Angeles



Senator Elaine Alquist (D 13-Santa Clara)   916-651-4013
Counties: Santa Clara
Main Cities: San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Gilroy



Senator Sam Blakeslee (R 15-San Luis Obispo)  916-651-4015
Counties: Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara (p)
Main Cities: San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Scotts Valley, Carmel Valley, Carmel, Morgan Hill, Morro Bay, Santa Maria



Senator Loni Hancock (D 9-Berkeley)  916-651-4009
Counties: Alameda (p), Contra Costa (p)
Main Cities: Alameda, Berkeley, Livermore, Oakland, Richmond



Senator Huff (R 29-Diamond Bar)  916-651-4029
Counties: Los Angeles (p),Orange (p),San Bernardino (p)
Main Cities: Anaheim, Arcadia, Brea, Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Covina, Diamond Bar, Glendora, Hacienda Heights, La Habra Heights, LaVerne, Monrovia, Placentia, Rowland Heights, San Dimas, Sierra Madre, Walnut



Senator Carol Liu (D 21-Pasadena)  916-651-4021
Counties: Los Angles (p)
Cities: Altadena, Burbank, Glendale, Hollywood, La Canada Flintridge, Los Angles, Pasadena, San Gabriel, Valley Village and Van Nuys



Senator Curren Price (D 26-Los Angeles)  916-651-4026
Counties: Los Angeles
Main Cities: Culver City, Hancock Park, Hollywood, Los Angeles



Senator Joe Simitian (D 11- Palo Alto)  916-651-4011
Counties: San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz
Main Cities: Atherton, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Capitola



Senator Juan Vargas (D 40 - Chula Vista)  916-651-4040
Counties: Imperial, Riverside (p), San Diego (p)
Main Cities: Brawley, Calexico, Cathedral City, Chula Vista, Coachella, Coronado, El Centro, Imperial Beach, Indio, National City, San Diego, San Ysidro