Dual-Language Immersion

* At the June 12 State Board of Education meeting, I spoke on behalf of 300-plus parents who have children participating in an outstanding dual-language immersion program at Las Palmas School in Capistrano Unified.

Because the program falls under the category of bilingual education, it may be threatened by implementation of Proposition 227 even though it already accomplishes for the limited English proficient student that which Ron Unz and California voters asked for--plus much more.

Dual-language immersion has been proven successful. It is markedly different from other methods and works because of an important 50/50 balance between native speakers from two language groups. Both groups need each other to achieve literacy in both languages.

I am a native English speaker. We speak only English at home and yet my first-grader can read and write with full comprehension in English and Spanish.

My fourth-grader is required to produce all her written work in both languages. Because of this program she is a completely bilingual 10-year-old and her basic skills in English, reading, writing and math are above grade level.

Research shows that if children are given the opportunity to learn and become literate in more than one language during their developmental years, their cognitive skills in other areas will improve accordingly. My own children and their classmates are proof positive that this is true.

My message to Sacramento and bilingual education reformers is that dual-language immersion is separate and different from traditional bilingual education. Don’t let all these bright and successful children become casualties in the war on bilingual education.

DONNA SABET

San Clemente