2 Languages Are Better Than 1

An experimental career-to-work program at Valley Alternative Magnet School in Van Nuys uses peer-taught Spanish in an effort to improve the social climate and teaching of the school’s diverse student body of 540 in grades K through 12.

Community-Based Learning (CBL) students--10th-, 11th- and 12th-graders--work for 10 hours each week in off-campus community-service and private-sector career internships tied to classroom material. In addition, all CBL students study Spanish. About half are native speakers who take advanced courses and also are grouped with beginners to help them practice conversation. Most CBL students also participate in teaching Spanish to the school’s elementary pupils.

With debate raging in California over Proposition 227, the June 2 ballot initiative to end most bilingual programs, CBL team teachers NORAH CUNNINGHAM and STEPHANIE DARLING asked students to write their opinions of their own bilingual education.

JONATHAN LOPEZ, Grade 11, Los Angeles

I was born in El Salvador, a small country in Central America. My family and I migrated to this country in 1988. I was only 8 years old. I was scared to hear everybody speaking English around me. In 1989, I started in the bilingual education program. My sister started giving me confidence because she has always liked going to school. Two months passed, and I could hold a conversation with my uncles who had been in this country for a longer time. They helped me a lot, but I owe all of this to the bilingual teacher who helped me trust myself, have higher self-esteem and stay in school, because I didn’t want to. My teacher’s name was Mrs. Montes, and she helped me learn to speak English, to write it and to be the best I could be.

To be part of this bilingual education program is very good. It helps non-English speakers learn faster because they feel secure knowing that someone speaks their language. I can relate to this because that’s what was happening to me. I believe that if we continue this program, many children will be able to speak English and stay in school. Sometimes the fact that he can’t learn takes away the student’s wish to be someone. In this society, the only way to be somebody is through school. In many cases, if we take out these programs we will be taking away the wishes of a child, one who someday hoped to be somebody in life.

RICHARD CHAN, Grade 11, North Hollywood

We do use this bilingual education. It helps us communicate with others, and in the workplace it is most necessary. Being an Asian, learning Spanish makes me trilingual.

Spanish is a language that is growing on me. Some people may want to get rid of bilingual education, but it is vital for everyone to speak two or three languages . . . . In the liquor store where I work, about 90% of the customers are bilingual, and I’ve used my Spanish to help the customers. This enhances my bilingual vocabulary and growth. My family and I would lose lots of customers if none of us spoke Spanish.

KARLA URRUTIA, Grade 12, Highland Park

Bilingual education is a great opportunity for everyone to speak two languages--to keep their own language and to learn a second one. It’s not fair that Gov. Pete Wilson wants to take bilingual education from the schools and from everyone. Many people support bilingual education and believe that it helps in many ways--both students and grown people. I am proud to be a Latina, and what I’m most proud of is knowing two languages: Spanish and English!

VERDONNA STEEN, Grade 12, Reseda

Before I began learning Spanish, I was one of the many Americans prejudiced against the Spanish language. Like all forms of prejudice, it was the result of ignorance. When I was in elementary school and junior high, I couldn’t stand the Spanish language. It sounded like a bunch of jumbled words with a lot of “la’s” and “a’s” on the ends. I hated hearing this crazy language. This was only because I couldn’t understand. My transition from this prejudice began when I began to learn Spanish. I was on the playground mocking one of the Spanish-speaking yard supervisors, pointing to a bench, saying, “Sita on the bencha.” Looking back, I’m mortified that I was once that ignorant. It was then that one of my classmates said, “No, it’s sientense en el banco.” From there she taught me other little words and phrases and my name in Spanish.

Even though I was never prejudiced against Spanish people, this brought me closer to my Spanish-speaking friends. In my Spanish II and III classes, we used peer tutoring to teach and learn Spanish. The Spanish speakers taught me lessons, and the next year I taught these lessons to the beginning Spanish speakers. This allows the student to really learn the language and keep the knowledge by utilizing it.

I’m currently working at MacDonald’s. Because I can speak Spanish, I can serve all of my customers. I don’t have to pass them along to someone who is bilingual. This makes me proud.

From taking Spanish, I’ve learned more than just the language. I’ve learned that those words that used to sound jumbled are a beautiful language.

DANNY BRONSTEIN, Grade 12, Woodland Hills

The more languages you know, the easier it will be to communicate with others. If you visit a country that speaks a different tongue and you don’t have at least some grasp of the language, you will have difficulties in everything from asking for directions (“I didn’t ask to go to the airport!”) to ordering food (“What the heck is this? I ordered a pizza!”) to saving your own life (“I asked to see the matador, not be the matador!)

I had the misfortune of almost completely forgetting the Russian I was taught as a child. Right now I am very fluent in English (which I began learning in kindergarten), but in Russian I can barely put together a sentence and read very slowly (although I do understand what people are saying). I plan to relearn the language in college, but I hate not being able to communicate with so many people of the culture I was raised in.

Right now, I am taking a class called “Spanish Culture and Conversation.” The native speakers tutor the non-native speakers, so it’s a good way to both learn the language and develop teaching skills.

Spanish is an excellent language to know well. Especially in Los Angeles.

OMAR DELGADO, Grade 10, Van Nuys

In our Spanish class, we learn how to express ourselves using Spanish. We also learn Spanish literature, which I find very interesting. We read in Spanish, write many stories and poems, and take notes. Bilingual education is important in this city, where Spanish is used a lot and there are many Latinos. Besides, the more languages you learn, the better future you have. I think there should be bilingual education offered in every school.

MARIA PARRA, Grade 10, Los Angeles

I think bilingual education is really good. It helps you in many ways. Being bilingual is important because when people go looking for jobs, they can say that they speak two languages, and that makes it easier to get a job. Some jobs even require that workers speak two languages. Everyone should have the opportunity to learn how to speak Spanish. Some people think it isn’t important to learn other languages, but it is. Everywhere you go, you find people who either don’t know English or don’t know Spanish. Being bilingual has helped me a lot with my work and with other people, too.