Comments on: NPR Takes a Look at Bilingual Immersion Schools

By: nicole

nicole — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:21:08 +0000

There are just a very few dual-language programs in the Houston school district, despite our enormous population of bilinguals (in various languages!!!) What they call “bilingual education” here is actually not that. They take kids who would naturally be some level of bilingual, and within 3 years move them into all-English classes.Thanks a lot for sharing hopeful sign..

By: Kelly Tirman

Kelly Tirman — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:34:50 +0000

We have several public immersion programs in San Francisco – but they are hard to get into.

By: Helenation

Helenation — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:19:09 +0000

My best friend teaches at Coral Way. I think it is an awesome program and I’m even thinking about moving (from Miami Lakes mind you) so that I can be closer to that school. Gotta love that Miami is as bilingual as it is.

By: Beth Ortuno

Beth Ortuno — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:23:38 +0000

We have a (free) dual-language charter school near us called Ser Niños, and cannot wait for next year’s chance to hopefully get our son into it. Not only would it be a LOT of help for us in raising our son bilingual, it’s academically just an excellent school. This will all be especially important in his middle school years so we’re very excited that this school goes pre-K to 8th grade. It’s by lottery and we did not make it this year but will keep trying. There are just a very few dual-language programs in the Houston school district, despite our enormous population of bilinguals (in various languages!!!) What they call “bilingual education” here is actually not that. They take kids who would naturally be some level of bilingual, and within 3 years move them into all-English classes. Some of the “bilingual” program teachers even try to push parents to speak English at home. But the public dual-language programs that exist in our district all seem to be using some kind of lottery system to get in because of being so popular. That is a hopeful sign.

By: suzanne mateus

suzanne mateus — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:45:26 +0000

I made it a point to go visit Coral Way some years back while visiting my mom in Miami. Yes, its an awesome school. I was teaching as a first grade dual language teacher at the time. I remember leaving the school and thinking to myself, “Why isn’t the dual language program I am working in supported as strongly as the one at Coral Way?” Again, as I keep saying this in various blog postings, it all goes back to context. In Miami, speaking at least two languages (Spanish/English) is a highly valued commodity. In Kansas City, not so much. As for where I am living now, Austin, Texas, well…yes, we hear lots of Spanish, but one difference between Miami and Austin, is that the minority group that speaks Spanish has a highly stigmatized perception, unfortunately, therefore, learning Spanish, well, its not as strongly supported. It saddens me ;( I think we are making gains though, here in central Texas. Dual language education is breaking some new ground we will just have to keep advocating for it….hopefully in 10-20 years it will have a positive impact as Coral Way has had in their local community.