Elementary Students Becoming Bilingual Learners

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Through immersion and collaboration, Mansfield ISD elementary school students in the Two-Way Dual Language Program are learning a second language.

English and Spanish native speakers are grouped together for classes that are taught 50 percent in English and 50 percent in Spanish. The result is a room full of students who are able to understand another language and learn other cultures.

“The benefit is just them accepting other cultures and being able to look at other people and find value,” said Tiffanie King, principal of Erma Nash Elementary School. “Eventually, they’ll be able to apply for jobs that they may not have been able to apply for and pursue because they have two languages, and they are bilingual and biliterate.”

Two-way dual language began in Mansfield ISD last school year at the kindergarten level at Erma Nash Elementary and D.P. Morris Elementary School.

Students listen intently as their science is taught in Spanish.

In the initial year, students learned the basics of their second language. Students who have entered into the second year are now able to integrate other languages into their everyday conversations.

“When they’re speaking to me, they’ll substitute some of the English words for a Spanish word or two and vice versa,” said Crystal Flores, a two-way dual language teacher at Nash Elementary School. “At this point, a realistic goal may be to communicate a thought to one another.”

Students in the program said the program is fun because they are constantly learning something new--even when they don’t realize it.

Drew Kindred, a second-year student in the program said he likes having a skill that others do not and plans to use his second language of Spanish wherever he can.

“My favorite thing about this class is learning because I like to learn English and Spanish,” the first-grader continued with excitement. “All about about timers...all about everything!”

Principal King said she gets chills to see how the students have progressed within the two-way dual language program. The program will continue to expand to the fourth-grade level with hopes of having a similar program at an intermediate school.

For more information about MISD’s Two-Way Dual Language Program or any other Power of Choice program, visit the district’s webpage.

Bilingual Learners Break Language Barriers

What happens when you combine children whose primary language is English with others whose primary language is Spanish? In Mansfield ISD, the answer is a group of bilingual learners.

Two-way dual language programs are now available at Erma Nash Elementary School for kindergarteners and at D.P. Morris Elementary School for kindergarteners and first-graders.

The English and Spanish-native students work simultaneously learning both languages in every subject.

“The students do an amazing job helping each other with words or pronunciations and understanding what the teacher is saying at times,” said Tara Sublette, principal at Morris Elementary. “They learn together, they play together, they socialize, they eat together, and language is never a problem.”

Anderson teaches the students how to read.

The programs allow students to be college and career ready by becoming bilingual, bi-literate and multicultural.

Sublette noted that the teachers work very hard to ensure that fun lessons are made in both languages.

Rebecca Anderson, a two-way dual language teacher, said it’s the social aspect of making friends and breaking barriers that has impressed her the most.

“We have students from all different schools and all different backgrounds,” Anderson said. “They’ve learned how to get along. They didn’t know each other at the beginning of the year, and they all love to come and be friends and learn each other’s languages."

Two-way dual language programs are part of MISD’s Power of Choice initiative. View more information about what’s offered here.

A Smooth Transition for Students New to the Country

We’ve all had the first-day-of-school jitters before. But just imagine how nerve racking it would be to have those first-day-of-school jitters... in a new country.

Worley Middle School’s Newcomers Class helps make that transition smoother for students who are in their first year of being in America. The class allows students from all over Mansfield ISD to get an education while adapting to the English language.

Teacher Samantha Ash teaching about U.S. history.

"The goal of the class is English language acquisition through content knowledge," said teacher Samantha Ash. "It's about using content-specific vocabulary for history, for math, and getting them to understand the English vocabulary of it."

The students come to the class knowing little-to-no English, but usually leave with the ability to understand the basics of the language.

That was the case for eighth grader Enrique Romo.

“I didn’t know English when I started,” said Romo. “People would come up to me and ask questions, but I didn’t know what they were saying. Now, I’m pretty good.”

The students also gain new friends in the process.

Eighth grader Karina Garcia after explaining why she loves the class.

“We’re all learning, so we talk and help each other understand,” said eighth grader Karina Garcia.

The students first learn vocabulary, like directions and common classroom items, and keep expanding upon their vocabulary doing various lesson plans.

“When you go to any country, you have to immerse yourself into the language; and that’s exactly what these kids do,” said Ash.

The class has seen as many as 23 students who speak 17 different languages at a time; and for Ash, that’s the beauty of it.

“I love seeing the kids participate. I want them to be proud of their language and have the ability to translate it into English."