Language is focus at Gilbert Elementary

4 comments:

• gilbertmom posted at 8:54 am on Mon, Oct 22, 2012.

  Posts: 7

  This is a wonderful experience for the children involved in the dual-language program. Research has shown - see the works of Noam Chomsky - that young children have a Language Acquisition Device in their brains to help them assimilate language in their environment. Dr. Trevor McKee pioneered the McKee Language System using Chomsky’s theories to help children also acquire a second language (google it). This works. Though my family is not of hispanic ancestry, both my husband and I learned Spanish as adults and chose to speak to our children in Spanish since birth. Our children are bilingual and have had increased educational and employment opportunities because of it. The goal of literacy in BOTH languages in the Gilbert El. program also fulfills the goals of the district in being world-class graduates. I would like to see the district provide fluidity to the program across the secondary grade levels. These students, if given the opportunity, could obtain AP Spanish credit when in junior high, if not 9th grade. I would also like to see the program expanded into preschool where children’s minds are even more flexible. If done properly, children can become fluent and literate in both languages, allowing them increased marketability in the world job market.

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• TruthMaster posted at 10:21 am on Sat, Oct 6, 2012.

  Posts: 1

  In response to VOFREASON, The language program at Gilbert Elementary is not designed as a crutch for kids that don't speak English. It's primarily to teach English speakers Spanish. You may not have noticed but there are many Hispanics in Arizona (and the rest of the country) and the business opportunities south of the border, including South America, are significant (Think about the oil bidness, Jethro!)

  And in response to ignorant PATRIOTMOM, the language program is not the focus of the entire school for every grade. The program does not cover every grade level and it is an optional program that parents can choose for their students. If you have a student that is smarter than the children that PATRIOTMOM has, then the language program might be a great way to increase your child's intelligence and keep your child challenged.[smile][smile]

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• patriotmom posted at 2:16 pm on Wed, Oct 3, 2012.

  Posts: 2

  What a complete waste of taxpayer money. America does not lag in the world in Spanish- we lag in math and science. Teaching kids difficult concepts- which math is for many- while also teaching that in a second language seems onerous. While there certainly is a benefit to learning a second language, there is no reason to make this the focus of an entire school for every grade.

  It certainly seems like pandering to a section of the population who refuses to learn the language of THIS country.

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• VofReason posted at 12:24 pm on Wed, Oct 3, 2012.

  Posts: 1487

  Hmmmm. I have lived in AZ for 35 years. Know enough Spainish to get my name on the board in a class, but have never seemed to have felt at a loss. So are we teaching English speaking kids Spainish for a benefit or just pandering to people who don't speak English?

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