We were honored to welcome Kim Schenck as our presenter. She is a dual language enthusiast, working as a first grade teacher in the dual language program at Wilson Elementary. Her energy and passion for the transfer of languages encouraged and motivated us. Although mainstream classrooms are more prominent, she acknowledged the challenge and the blessing it is to work in such a special program.
At Wilson Elementary, they use the Gomez and Gomez Model meaning that the students learn science and social studies in Spanish while learning math and language arts in English. They also practice the two way dual language program so that there is an even mix of both Spanish speaking and English speaking students in both classrooms. This allows what they call “bilingual pairs” to be present in the class. Instead of the teacher doing all the teaching, the students become “responsible for each other.” The Spanish speaker will help the English speaker in Spanish speaking classes and vise versa. This creates a relationship between the students and respect of his/her language. Kim Schenck teaches her class to the fullest based on this motto, “In order to learn language, you have to practice language.” There is always interaction. She says that her class is loud and always moving and talking, but that just means language is being transferred and they are learning.
She outlined the challenges of teaching dual language as well. She says the lack of materials in Spanish is a difficult challenge because as the Spanish speaking instructor, you must translate all the material into Spanish. Other challenges included limited Spanish books in the classroom library, assessments that are either content or language based, transient bilingual students, and additional teacher time and efforts.
Although Schenck believes that teaching dual language is a challenge, she is a huge advocate for the program. Having two children in the program herself, teaching for numerous years, and seeing the success of students as they grow in their learning, she encourages us all to become apart of this special program.
Our goal as educators is to expose our students to new learning, new culture, and new perspectives. In the dual language program, students are getting that learning. The goal for Ms. Schenck and the rest of us approaching the opportunity to teach in dual language is, “We want them to be bicultural, bi-literate, and bilingual.”
Let’s take the challenge. Do something out of our comfort zone and attempt dual language. Ms. Schenck says, once you do dual language, you’ll never want to go back to a mainstream classroom. It isn’t the same… and that’s what makes it wonderful.
At Wilson Elementary, they use the Gomez and Gomez Model meaning that the students learn science and social studies in Spanish while learning math and language arts in English. They also practice the two way dual language program so that there is an even mix of both Spanish speaking and English speaking students in both classrooms. This allows what they call “bilingual pairs” to be present in the class. Instead of the teacher doing all the teaching, the students become “responsible for each other.” The Spanish speaker will help the English speaker in Spanish speaking classes and vise versa. This creates a relationship between the students and respect of his/her language. Kim Schenck teaches her class to the fullest based on this motto, “In order to learn language, you have to practice language.” There is always interaction. She says that her class is loud and always moving and talking, but that just means language is being transferred and they are learning.
She outlined the challenges of teaching dual language as well. She says the lack of materials in Spanish is a difficult challenge because as the Spanish speaking instructor, you must translate all the material into Spanish. Other challenges included limited Spanish books in the classroom library, assessments that are either content or language based, transient bilingual students, and additional teacher time and efforts.
Although Schenck believes that teaching dual language is a challenge, she is a huge advocate for the program. Having two children in the program herself, teaching for numerous years, and seeing the success of students as they grow in their learning, she encourages us all to become apart of this special program.
Our goal as educators is to expose our students to new learning, new culture, and new perspectives. In the dual language program, students are getting that learning. The goal for Ms. Schenck and the rest of us approaching the opportunity to teach in dual language is, “We want them to be bicultural, bi-literate, and bilingual.”
Let’s take the challenge. Do something out of our comfort zone and attempt dual language. Ms. Schenck says, once you do dual language, you’ll never want to go back to a mainstream classroom. It isn’t the same… and that’s what makes it wonderful.