Dual Language

As the mother of two children enrolled in a dual-language program and as an expert in bilingualism and bilingual education, I can assure you that English as a second language, or ESL, programs, in their goals, structure and implementation, are a far cry from immersion/dual-language programs (Dual immersion sounds a lot like ESL,” Jan. 27). First, the expectations of each program are different. In ESL programs, no support or value is given to the child’s primary language, and the goal is that the child learns English as quickly as possible (often at the expense of the primary language)

Students in the Korean Dual Language Program at Mark Keppel Elementary School welcomed the start of the Lunar New Year in Korean fashion on Thursday, with food, games and expressions of respect for their elders. Thursday was the first day of the Year of the Rat according to the lunar calendar, which is celebrated in many east Asian countries, including China and Korea. In Korea, children frequently celebrate the start of the new year by dressing up in traditional clothes and visiting extended family members.

Plans to phase out German dual-language classes at Franklin Elementary School has caused an uproar, with some parents accusing district officials of misrepresenting their long-term commitment to the program and others vowing to do whatever it takes to save it. “What we are upset about is the fact that we really got blindsided by this,” said Eva Sippel, the mother of a German-language kindergarten student. “Nobody talked to us previously. If you call every single German parent they will all say the same thing - utter and complete shock.” Parent Kathleen Hand said that she and others will call on Glendale Unified officials to continue the program during a meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. today at Franklin Elementary.

Glendale Unified School District Board of Education President Mary Boger and her board colleague, Joylene Wagner, unveiled the California Assn. for Bilingual Education award Thursday. Glendale Unified was chosen as bilingual school district of the year in large part for its successful dual-language programs. The ceremony at Jefferson Elementary School coincided with the school’s monthly flag ceremony in which students are recognized as students of the month and for good behavior.

GLENDALE — Scores of parents are recruiting more families to support adding Japanese to the Glendale Unified School District’s popular slate of elementary school dual-language programs. Organizers said they want to replicate the success of other dual-language programs offered in Italian, German, Armenian, Spanish and Korean. The Foreign Language Academy of Glendale, or FLAG, has been widely lauded for boosting campus enrollment and academic achievement. In September, the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education accepted two grants totaling $2.4 million for expanding the Spanish and Korean programs.

Federal grants worth $2.4 million will expand successful dual-language programs at Glendale Unified School District to more campuses, officials said Wednesday. The Foreign Language Academy of Glendale, known as FLAG, was awarded two grants by the U.S. Department of Education, a rare funding boost that administrators said would allow Spanish-language programming at Toll Middle School and Korean at another middle school campus by 2013. FLAG began a few years ago and offers bilingual education in Spanish, Armenian, Korean, German and, most recently, Italian.

GLENDALE — Giggles started to spread through a Franklin Elementary School classroom Tuesday as students tried to count in Italian. The students called out the single-digit numbers with ease, but began stumbling through the teens and eventually fell behind teacher Daniela Pino, laughing and mumbling their way to 20. “Dodici, tredici, quattordici, quin...tor...dici...” the students called out, trailing off in uncertainty. Students at Franklin Elementary School began new after-school Italian classes last week, in sessions that started with instructions in the foreign tongue.

Kayoko Fujii's classroom was buzzing with activity last week. In one corner students were using large calligraphy brushes to paint kangi characters, while in another they were calling out answers to a numbers game in Japanese. The first-grade teacher moved to the front of the room where a small Japanese flag was clipped to the white board. She turned it over to reveal an American flag, and within a few seconds the chatter shifted to English. Five months after launching the dual language Japanese language program at Verdugo Woodlands Elementary School, teachers said they are pleased with its direction and students' progress.

According to your editorial on Wednesday, Edison Elementary will start a pilot program next year aimed at increasing dual literacy among students. Half of each class will be Spanish-speakers, half will be English-speakers. Ninety percent of the instructional day will be taught in Spanish, 10% will be taught in English. The percentage of English instruction will increase each year to 50% in the fifth grade. I think the concept is great. But if we want everyone to be proficient in both languages, why isn't the split 50% Spanish instruction and 50% English instruction?

Plans to phase out German dual-language classes at Franklin Elementary School has caused an uproar, with some parents accusing district officials of misrepresenting their long-term commitment to the program and others vowing to do whatever it takes to save it. “What we are upset about is the fact that we really got blindsided by this,” said Eva Sippel, the mother of a German-language kindergarten student. “Nobody talked to us previously. If you call every single German parent they will all say the same thing - utter and complete shock.” Parent Kathleen Hand said that she and others will call on Glendale Unified officials to continue the program during a meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. today at Franklin Elementary.

Roosevelt Middle School buzzed with nervous energy Monday as students congregated in twos and threes to discuss class schedules and back-to-school shopping. “I did mine a month before school started so I would have everything ready,” 12-year-old Liana Mkrtchyan said as she waited for the first bell to ring. The scene played out at schools throughout Glendale Unified as teachers opened their classrooms for the start of the 2011-12 academic year. Preliminary projections pegged total enrollment at 25,408 students, although that number will fluctuate in the coming weeks, district officials said.

It started out as an experiment with less than 20 students. Nine years later, Glendale Unified's dual language programs have caught major traction, growing exponentially and generating waiting lists dozens of names deep. But while the Foreign Language Academies of Glendale - commonly referred to as the FLAG programs - are helping the district stabilize declining enrollment numbers by attracting out-of-district students, they also are generating new concerns about space and staffing.

The Kiwanis Club of Glendale Grill Team brought out the barbecues, food and tables to prepare and serve the area Boy Scout troop members who were walking in the third annual Ten Commandments Hike. The Scouts hiked about 3 miles through Glendale and visited 10 churches in the city on the hike. The Grill Team fed 129 Scouts and friends who participated. At the Kiwanis meeting on Feb. 4 the “Grill Team” members, Marko Swan, Ed Gredvig, Kelly Gredvig, Ed’s daughter; Pat Liddell and Jose Sierra, were all recognized for their tireless efforts in preparing and serving the food to the hikers.

As the mother of two children enrolled in a dual-language program and as an expert in bilingualism and bilingual education, I can assure you that English as a second language, or ESL, programs, in their goals, structure and implementation, are a far cry from immersion/dual-language programs (Dual immersion sounds a lot like ESL,” Jan. 27). First, the expectations of each program are different. In ESL programs, no support or value is given to the child’s primary language, and the goal is that the child learns English as quickly as possible (often at the expense of the primary language)

Kayoko Fujii's classroom was buzzing with activity last week. In one corner students were using large calligraphy brushes to paint kangi characters, while in another they were calling out answers to a numbers game in Japanese. The first-grade teacher moved to the front of the room where a small Japanese flag was clipped to the white board. She turned it over to reveal an American flag, and within a few seconds the chatter shifted to English. Five months after launching the dual language Japanese language program at Verdugo Woodlands Elementary School, teachers said they are pleased with its direction and students' progress.

GLENDALE — Each year, the Foreign Language Academy of Glendale continues to expand its global reach. Glendale Unified's dual-language immersion program will reach middle schools next year. It will reach new destinations at new elementary schools, and it has transformed Franklin Elementary School. English-only instruction will be phased out at the west Glendale school during the next few years, officials said. "Every year it grows another grade level at each of the sites," said Joanna Junge, the district's director of special projects, intercultural education and professional development.

Kindergarten through second-grade students in the Korean dual-language immersion program at Keppel Elementary School performed traditional Korean children’s stories Wednesday. Kindergartners sang about tadpoles, and first-graders starred in a play about two stepsisters, Kongjwee and Patjwee. Second-graders performed a Korean mask dance. Because students are learning a new alphabet, instruction is half in Korean and half in English. The Korean program is one of six languages in the Foreign Language Academy of Glendale.

Glendale Unified School District Board of Education President Mary Boger and her board colleague, Joylene Wagner, unveiled the California Assn. for Bilingual Education award Thursday. Glendale Unified was chosen as bilingual school district of the year in large part for its successful dual-language programs. The ceremony at Jefferson Elementary School coincided with the school’s monthly flag ceremony in which students are recognized as students of the month and for good behavior.

GLENDALE — Scores of parents are recruiting more families to support adding Japanese to the Glendale Unified School District’s popular slate of elementary school dual-language programs. Organizers said they want to replicate the success of other dual-language programs offered in Italian, German, Armenian, Spanish and Korean. The Foreign Language Academy of Glendale, or FLAG, has been widely lauded for boosting campus enrollment and academic achievement. In September, the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education accepted two grants totaling $2.4 million for expanding the Spanish and Korean programs.