MODULE 1: Activities

 

 

Time line

Time line of major events affecting the history of bilingual education is presented in the next link.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BxA9lEFx27XhdGgxb0tmSFREaW8

 

Bilingual education defenders' opinion and experiences

 

Three interviews of bilingual education defenders are presented next. The purpose of this activity is to show bilingual education experts' opinions.

Dr. Daniel P. King, Superintendent

Pharr- San Juan- Alamo- ISD

· What is your current position? Superintendent of Schools

· Are you bilingual? Yes.

· Which is your first language? English

· Do you consider yourself an advocator of Bilingual Education? Yes.

· If yes, for how long have you been an advocator? 30 years

· Why do you believe in Bilingual Education? I have seen it work.

· What is the main purpose in the area of education (Bilingual Education)?
          1. Develop a strong 1st language
          2. Develop a strong 2nd language
          3. Develop biliteracy

· What is the main achievement in this area? Led development of strong dual language program in grades PK-12.

· What would you say to parents that are undecided about bilingual education for their children’s schooling? Biliteracy is a big advantage.

Nora Rodriguez, Supervisor

For High Dosage Tutors

Austin, Texas

·         What is your current position? I am a supervisor for High Dosage Tutors

·         Are you bilingual? Yes, I am bilingual… Spanish… read and write at a proficient level.

·         Which is your first language? My first language was English because I’m the youngest of 10 children and conversed more with my siblings than the adults in my family…consequently they were in school studying in English so they taught me English as a toddler.

·         Do you consider yourself an advocator of Bilingual Education? Yes, absolutely…

·         If yes, for how long have you been an advocator? I’m an advocate of bilingualism and have shine I realize I was denied my mother tongue…probably in my mid-20s

·         Why do you believe in Bilingual Education? Because it allows you two ways of communicating with people, thus having the potential to reach and impact more lives.

·         What is the main purpose in the area of education (Bilingual Education)? Talk to anyone who will listen the importance of maintaining your native…mother language…all languages are important…living on the border of Mexico, Spanish is very important.

·         What is the main achievement in this area? I would like to…one day… create a website for bilingual educators with videos, resources, a parent corner as well as interactive games for kids in Spanish and English.

·         What would you say to parents that are undecided about bilingual education for their children’s schooling? How does knowing more than 1 language hurt or setback a person in getting a job…in fact, I got my job BECAUSE I know 2 languages…Spanish in particular.

Dr. Valentin Ekiaka Nzai

Assistant Professor & Graduate Coordinator

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

 

·         What is your current position? Assistant Professor & Graduate Coordinator

·         Are you bilingual? I am MULTILINGUAL

·         Which is your first language? French, Lingala, Sakata

·         Do you consider yourself an advocator of Bilingual Education? Yes, advocate of multilingual multicultural education for social peace and community development.

·         If yes, for how long have you been an advocator? Since 2000

·         Why do you believe in Bilingual Education? I believe in multilingual-multicultural education (more than 2 languages), because it is the gateway for social paece, community-based development in the current global word, social capital (bonding and bridging) and intercultural identity/personality.

·         What is the main purpose in the area of education (Bilingual Education)?Training highly qualified multilingual-multicultural teacher committed to become old timers of a minimum of 3 cultural reference groups.

·         What is the main achievement in this area? Setting up collaborative venture with some institutions in Mexico, Taiwan and UEA aimed at pioneering our multilingual-multicultural teacher education frames and cyber 12 learning program.

·         What would you say to parents that are undecided about bilingual education for their children’s schooling? Strength their heritage language of their children, so they can be able to grab the 12 by its horns.