Harvard Elementary students who continue in the IB program are required to become bilingual as graduates of the Diploma Programme.
If there’s a trend in education, it’s that global is in. With the Houston Independent School District’s expansion of its Spanish dual language program – adding nearly two dozen additional schools to the 31 that offer a Spanish dual language program – as well as the growth of the International Baccalaureate, or IB program, and additional language immersion schools, the goal is to set students up for success in a global economy.
In the Leader area, Love Elementary School, Durham Elementary School and Wainwright Elementary School will all become dual language come August. Kindergarten students will be learning in both English and Spanish. One grade will be added to the program each year until it reaches school-wide.
In the dual language model, students take their core instruction in both languages, with non-native English speakers acquiring the English skills they need, and native English speakers becoming bilingual and biliterate.
In his 2015 State of the School address, Superintendent Terry Grier talked a lot about how a global education translates into academic success in other areas. He pointed to research showing that learning a new language improves students’ analytical skills and enhances their memory and creativity.
“Global education is about more than just being able to speak another language,” he said at the time. “It’s about understanding and appreciating other cultures so that we can successfully work alongside those from different backgrounds.”
HISD’s Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School in Bellaire has been popular, opening at capacity in 2012 and now with a waiting list. The Wong family in Candlelight Place sends their son there, and Sean Wong is most pleased with the school.
“As we all know children‘s capability of learning another language is far superior than adults,” said Wong. “Austin can casually carry on conversation in Mandarin at public places without much difficulty. In addition, he knows how to read and write a few hundred Chinese characters. This is incredible considering he has only been exposed to the HISD Mandarin Program for three years.”
The Leader has also reported on the new Arabic Immersion Magnet School in the Heights, the creation of which was the result of a unanimous vote by the board. AIMS will welcome two pre-kindergarten and two kindergarten classes in the fall of 2015. A new grade level would be added each year as students progress through the fifth grade. In his October 2014 speech, Dr. Grier said that a Hindi dual language immersion school isn’t far off either.
There are some Leader area schools who have already implemented the dual language program, like Helms Elementary. Principal John Baker looks to the research when evaluating the benefits of the program for his school.
“Dual Language programs produce better long term outcomes for Spanish speaking students learning English while helping English speakers get a solid foundation in Spanish,” he said. “At Helms this year, we are excited to begin our Latin Art and Culture class that will allow our students to engage in a deeper study of the Spanish language, Spain, and the countries of Latin America through exploring their art, literature, history, and culture.”
At Love Elementary where the program will be new, Principal Robert Chavarria sees it as a win-win for all students. It will give English speakers their first opportunity to become fluent in Spanish as the school did not offer it as an ancillary.
Hogg Middle School’s new principal Angela Sugarek is coming from Durham which is also incorporating the program.
“Durham is moving to dual language from a traditional bilingual because the traditional bilingual program was a subtractive program with the sole goal of moving students out of their native language of Spanish and into English,” she said. “This program offered no benefit to non-Spanish-speaking students and was marginally beneficial for Spanish-speaking students. Dual language fits perfectly with the International Baccalaureate programme which actually require students graduating from the Diploma Programme to be fully bilingual.”
Durham parent Holly Inderrieden said that she’s excited her first grader will develop a skill that she can use to connect with others in Houston and the world.
Durham Elementary, Hogg Middle School, Harvard Elementary and Reagan High School are The Leader’s public International Baccalaureate schools. The benefits of IB according to believers are manifold.
“In order for America to compete in the expanding global economy of the future, it is essential for our students to learn to think critically and to challenge the status quo, which is the primary goal of IB,” said Sugarek. “In addition, an IB education empowers students to build a better world through intercultural understanding and respect.”
And it’s not just the public schools who encourage a more international mindset. St. Rose of Lima students attend Spanish classes two times a week through fifth grade, after which it is an elective. At the British International School of Houston on Watonga where IB is also offered, the students this year achieved a 100% pass rate with an average International Baccalaureate Diploma Program score of 37 points, with 45 as the max.