Introduction to New Spanish Programs
Six elementary schools are getting new Spanish language programs as Chicago Public Schools seeks to broaden access to multilingual programs and graduate more students with bilingual skills.
Dual Language Programs
Little Village Elementary, Lloyd Elementary in Belmont Cragin, and Sadlowski Elementary in the East Side neighborhood are adding dual language programs aimed at helping students become bilingual in Spanish and English.
With those additions, 46 schools in CPS will offer dual language — a small fraction of the district’s 600-plus schools, but more than double the number that offered the in-demand program eight years ago.
World Language Programs
Spanish world language programs, which are designed to build solid communication skills, are coming to Nettelhorst Elementary in Lake View, Poe Classical School in Pullman and Swift Elementary in Edgewater. The district now offers world language programs in about 40% of its schools.
Mandarin Teacher Qi Deng speaks with students study Mandarin phrases at Calmeca Academy of Fine Arts in Brighton Park on Thursday.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Benefits of Early Start
Massiel Zaragoza, the dual language program manager at CPS, said it’s essential for students interested in foreign languages to get an early start.
“When students have access to a world language program at the elementary level, by the time they get to high school, they are prepared to take higher-level Spanish classes,” Zaragoza said. “It leads to long-term sustainability.”
Addressing Language Deserts
Dual language programs are considered the gold standard in bilingual education, but Chicago students have historically had uneven access to them.
The expansion is an effort to bridge that gap, Zaragoza said, particularly in the city’s “language deserts,” where no programs exist.
Students studying Spanish at Calmeca Academy of Fine Arts. About 40% of CPS schools now offer world language programs.
Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Support and Funding
Zaragoza said the district has taken measures to address that, such as partnering with universities to reduce tuition costs for CPS teachers seeking bilingual certification needed to instruct in dual language settings. And each dual language school gets a dedicated coordinator that works with Zaragoza’s office to develop best practices, she said.
Conclusion
Language programs can also foster a sense of pride and identity among some students while introducing others to new cultures.
Eric Dockery, the principal at Poe, said that’s one reason he’s excited about the new world language program at his school.
“We try and instill in our students that they are citizens of the world, and we feel that learning another language and gaining an appreciation of a different culture could help them,” Dockery said. “We don’t want them to just limit their thinking to the neighborhood or Chicago or even the state or the country.”
FAQs
Q: How many schools in CPS will offer dual language programs?
A: 46 schools in CPS will offer dual language programs.
Q: What is the goal of the dual language programs?
A: The goal of the dual language programs is to help students become bilingual in Spanish and English.
Q: How many schools in CPS offer world language programs?
A: About 40% of CPS schools now offer world language programs.
Q: Why is it essential for students to get an early start in learning a foreign language?
A: It’s crucial for students to get an early start in learning a foreign language because it leads to long-term sustainability and prepares them to take higher-level classes in high school.
