Dual-language program offers experience for future teachers at WSU Tri-Cities
Students in Kennewick's dual-language program study half the day in Spanish, half in English. Volunteers in their classrooms include WSU students who are not only helping the youngsters succeed, but are boosting their own career prospects in the high-demand field of English language learning and bilingual education.
Photos by Julie Titone, College of Education
By Julie Titone, College of Education
KENNEWICK - Eric Johnson taught Spanish for 11 years. He is so fluent that Hispanic children have been known to break out in giggles of surprise when they hear him speak his native English.
But he didn’t know azufre and yodo (sulfur and iodine) until he volunteered in Hawthorne Elementary School’s dual-language program, which is designed to make students academically successful in both languages. They spend mornings learning in English, afternoons in Spanish. Their teachers need exceptional bilingual skills.
“You might be a very proficient Spanish speaker and never have discussed rocks and minerals like you do in science lessons,” said Johnson, an assistant professor of education at WSU Tri-Cities. “I’ve learned a ton of school language and teaching language in the program.”
WSU students who want to teach English language learners (ELLs) also learn mucho as classroom volunteers. Besides helping the children, the university students plug into a professional network and boost their career prospects.
“There is high demand for bilingual teachers across the Columbia River basin,” said Johnson. “Training our pre-service teachers in bilingual methods will allow them to teach in a dual language program, teach English-as-a-second-language classes, or work in a mainstream classroom that has a high number of English language learners.” In the Kennewick dual-language classes, half of the students are native English speakers, half native Spanish speakers. So many parents want to enroll their children that the district set up a lottery system to determine who is chosen for the 26 dual-language spots that open up each year at both Hawthorne and Edison elementary schools.
Teachers who work in dual-language programs must be able to read, write and speak the second language. In Kennewick’s program, reading and writing are taught in Spanish and math/science/social studies are taught in English, up until third grade. At that point, the languages and lessons are switched.
Dual-language programs can feature any combination of languages - one of Johnson’s students is fluent in Russian - but in central Washington, with its large Hispanic population, the Spanish/English combination is in demand. Spanish was the first language of WSU senior Jasmine Ola, one of the Hawthorne program volunteers.
“Fourth grade was the first time I was in an all-English classroom,” Ola said, recalling the stress of being confronted with lessons in an unfamiliar language. Now, she understands that stress from several perspectives.
“My brother is in fourth grade, and my sister and I go to parent-teacher conferences with my mom.”
Her reaction to working with the dual-language students and seeing them thrive: “I love it.”
The Kennewick program is five years old, so there are dual-language classes for students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Program facilitator Abby Cooper said it will be up to the school board whether to continue dual-language classes through high school, as Washington schools in Sunnyside and Grandview have done.
“We would love to have a K-12 program,” Cooper said.
Cooper earned an undergraduate degree in Spanish, but didn’t become fluent until she started to converse with the district’s Hispanic parents. She is helping increase the number of qualified instructors by teaching a graduate-level course in ELL teaching methods at WSU Tri-Cities.
“Many of my students are those who are spending time in the classrooms,” Cooper said. “In my class, as we discuss bilingual/ELL methods and strategies, the students are able to bring real-life experiences to the discussion and also practice those same strategies immediately.”
On a visit to teacher Blanca Harvey’s fourth-grade class at Hawthorne, Cooper pointed with pride to a student answering a question in rapid-fire Spanish. He could pass for a native speaker, she said, even though he’s from an English-speaking family.
"Dual education is appropriate for any learner,” Cooper said. “The challenge is finding enough teachers.”
New Faculty Bring Expertise in Literacy, Teacher Preparation
We are pleased to introduce two new instructors who have joined the WSU Tri-Cities Education faculty: Jennifer Johnson and Dr. Maria Moscatelli.
Jennifer Johnson brings her expertise in literacy, teaching undergraduate literacy courses while also supervising teacher candidates in local elementary schools. Dr. Moscatelli has assumed the coordination responsibilities for Teacher Professional Certification and will teach core undergraduate courses in teacher preparation.
Prior to earning an Ed.M. with an emphasis in Literacy Education from WSU Pullman in May 2009, Jennifer taught elementary school in Utah for 12 years. During that time, she was the recipient of the Golden Apple Award and twice recognized as Teacher of the Year. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, she was the Character Education leader, the Super Saturday coordinator, a mentor classroom teacher for Brigham Young University, and the second grade team Music leader. She grew up in Sunnyside and is happy to be back in Washington. We’re happy to bring her closer to home.
Jennifer believes in proven and practical teaching strategies. She brings with her a rich experience in classroom teaching and in using children’s literature throughout an elementary curriculum. She is excited to contribute to WSU students’ educational experiences and hopes to inspire them to become effective and compassionate teachers. Jennifer can be reached at jenniferjohnson@tricity.wsu.edu or 509-372-7170. Dr. Maria Moscatelli recently completed her doctorate from WSU with a research focus on the socialization process of the student teacher during the student teaching experience and the relationship between the student teacher and mentor teacher during this exciting and challenging period.
As coordinator of Teacher ProCert, Maria wants to remind educators that a new teacher certificate structure was implemented in the state of Washington beginning September 2000. The first-level certificate, called the Residency Certificate, is valid for five years. Teachers who possess a Residency Certificate must complete requirements for the Professional Certificate within five years or apply for a renewal of the Residency Certificate. Maria is here to help those of you with your residency certificate to meet the state guidelines for professional certification. If you have any questions about WSU Tri-Cities ProCert Program, please contact Dr. Moscatelli at 509-372-7186 or mmoscatelli@tricity.wsu.edu. |
