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| BILINGUAL PROJECT 2007 Our main goal is to teach students how to communicate efficiently in English, taking advantage of the content taught through different subjects like Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, American Culture, Social Trends and TOEFL, which will allow students to perform effectively in academic and social contexts. Our project is based on the Common European Framework Guidelines and managed by skilled professionals who excel at methodology and evaluation procedures. Our students learn English as a foreign language while developing the thinking process and an understanding of the language which allows them to handle all the communicative skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing in accordance with the highest standards, which will let them perform with ease in both national and international contexts. The English Department keeps itself updated in all pedagogic trends, and it is also guided by the philosophy of the school: “Working Together for a Transforming Leadership.” NATIVE ENGLISH TEACHERS For the last five years our teachers have had the opportunity to participate in an exchange program through a school partnership with the Fulbright Commission, and at the same time our students have benefited from having native English teachers. Among these exchange teachers we have had: Elizabeth Masturzo: Mrs. Masturzo holds an B.A. in English and Spanish Education at Bowling Green University in Ohio. Teacher of Language Arts and science for Third and second grade. James Hoggard: Mr. Hoggard holds an B.A in Spanish Education at Asheville University , North Carolina and an M.A. in Spanish from Salamanca University in Spain. He taught American Culture and Language Arts to students from 5 th grade in 2004-2005. Wendi Ben-Ari: Mrs. Ben Ari holds a B.A in Political Science and an M.A in Linguistics from Queens College , New York . She taught Language Arts to students in 4 th and 5 th grade in 2005-2006. Tracey Freyre: Mrs. Tracey holds a B.A in English Literature from the University of Virginia, Virginia and a M.A in English Education from University of California , Berkeley. She has taught language Arts in 7 th grade in 2006-2007. NEW FOREIGN TEACHERS FOR 2007-2008 Margaret M. Morrison: She holds an B.A in Art and minor in Biology. Mrs Morrison has been an elementary art teacher at Bolton Elementary school in Winston Salem North Carolina. And she will join our staff to teach elementary students. Tina Anstadt: She holds a B.A in liberal studies with an emphasis in cross-cultural language development. Mrs. Anstadt has been teaching as a resource specialist teacher for elementary and middle school students for over ten years. She was also a kindergarten resource specialist for four years. Adriana Perez: She holds a B.A. in social science from the University of California , Berkeley. Mrs. Perez has been teaching multiple subjects including Spanish and English at Longfellow Elementary School for the past five years. WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS OF PRESCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY STUDENTS In order to continue our successful program of home school connection, parents of Preschool and Elementary will have the opportunity to participate in a workshop at the beginning of the year to learn some games and strategies to help their kids at home. We are certain that this experience will be quite helpful not only because of the bilingual learning process for parents and their children, but because of the opportunity to meet other families and construct a setting for integration in which we will enjoy and share fun and valuable activities. CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES English is practiced in a spontaneous style through significant activities for children. We create opportunities where students can use the language in meaningful contexts like science fairs, contests, field trips, plays computer lab activities, nature exploration in the school garden, and other spare time activities. WEEKEND IMMERSION PROGRAMS Last year, students from 4 th and 5 th grade were invited to participate in a creative program called immersion weekend in which they were totally immersed in an English speaking environment. This year our children will enjoy various activities with teachers and other completely bilingual staff. Activities include: theatre, art, cooking, swimming contests, and some hands-on projects. This is a wonderful opportunity for children to use the language in a meaningful way. CAMBRIDGE ESOL EXAMINATIONS AN D TOEFL Our students will have to take the Cambridge tests in order to measure if we meet international standards. These tests' objective is to evaluate and gauge student's communicative skills. Flyers and PET will be administered by the British Council. Other exams like Starters, Movers, and KET mock exams will be administered by school staff. Our students are also prepared to take the TOEFL examination, required for any student who seeks admission to U.S colleges and national universities INTERVENTION AND TUTORING PROGRAM Students with low performances in English subjects can take advantage of this special program in order to receive additional support so that they become more secure and confident in using the language. Its main objective is to create a simultaneous curriculum that can fit school's expectations according to these students' language abilities. This is to be a well thought curriculum which has been implemented since 2006. Taking into account parents' and students interest of enhancing children's knowledge of the English language and culture, we have been in touch with SITIO DE CONTACTO, an experienced and reliable tourist agency in the education field. They have organized the first immersion trip to Canada . Our students from 4 th , 5 th and 6 th grades will have the opportunity of living and studying abroad during the months of November and December and we are sure this valuable experience will be greatly cherished not only by the students, but also by the school community. ENGLISH LABORATORY One of the main projects for the year 2007 is to have our language laboratory where students can reinforce what is being taught in class. Our school understands today's' students needs in terms of more enjoyable and interactive lessons and we believe technology plays a major role in making this happen. With the acquisition of all the necessary resources to support and strengthen the development of the communicative skills, we expect our students approach English language learning in a more pleasant environment. |
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