Spanish-speakers now have own classes
By: RANI GUPTA - Staff Writer | ∞
TEMECULA -- Seventeen-year-old Alex Ruelas has no problem pronouncing words in Spanish, which he speaks at home with his Mexican-born parents.
Figuring out where the accent marks go on the page, however, is a bit tougher for the Temecula Valley High School junior.
Until this year, Alex might have been in limbo in Spanish classes, with oral skills more advanced than those of his peers but written skills that had yet to catch up. In the fall, Temecula high schools offered, for the first time, Spanish classes for Spanish-speaking students.
Temecula Valley Unified School District trustees unanimously approved the classes last year, but the idea initially surprised board President Stewart Morris.
"I heard 'Spanish for Spanish speakers' and it kind of caught me off guard," he said. "Once they explained to me what it really was ... the light went on."
Supporters say these classes are needed for the same reason that American children who grow up speaking English at home study English in school.
Native Spanish speakers can be bored in regular Spanish classes because their peers are learning basic words they have known for years. But the same students may be lost in higher-level language classes without formal training.
"To put that child in a Spanish 1 class because they don't have the grammar (skills) is really a waste of their time because they don't need that instruction," said Dianne Vaez, the district's director of curriculum, instruction and assessment. "What they need is instruction in grammar, reading and writing."
Vaez said Temecula teachers are pleased with the fledgling programs, which serve about 160 students at the district's three high schools. She said the only problem noted so far is that some students placed in the more advanced course really belong in the beginners' classes and vice versa.
Nationwide, anecdotal evidence suggests classes for native speakers are becoming more popular, said Joy Peyton, vice president of the Center for Applied Linguistics, a Washington-based nonprofit that promotes the teaching of different languages and cultures. Her organization, however, does not track the prevalence of these so-called heritage language programs.
"They're getting, I would say, more well-established because some people have started programs that are strong and successful programs, and they serve as leaders for other schools that want to start programs," Peyton said.
Many high schools, including Temecula's, hope these classes will ultimately spur Spanish-speaking students to take college-level classes in the subject.
Last year, Latinos made up nearly 60 percent of students who took the Advanced Placement Spanish language or literature tests. A decade earlier, fewer than half the test-takers were Latino. The numbers don't separate native speakers from non-natives.
Evangelina Perez, who teaches the two Spanish for native speakers classes at Temecula Valley High, said her students' familiarity with the language means she can teach them more "intricate" Spanish-language literature by writers such as Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Mexican-born Octavio Paz.
"They're getting introduced to all the authors of the Spanish-speaking world," Perez said.
She also doesn't need to use the tricks she uses with her traditional classes, such as teaching concepts with words that are similar in Spanish and English.
For instance, Perez recently taught students how Spanish adjectives can be transformed into adverbs by adding "mente" to the end, just as English adjectives can be transformed by adding "ly." To illustrate the concept for students in her regular classes, Perez used the word particularmente as an example because it has the same root as the English version, "particularly."
Perhaps the biggest difference is that classes for native speakers are taught almost entirely in Spanish, while regular classes often use English. Perez has even included a handful of high-performing nonnative students in her new classes to increase their exposure to the language.
Briana Cabello, a Temecula Valley High junior who speaks a mix of Spanish and English at home, said her past classes concentrated only on teaching the Spanish language while her new class covers history and other subjects.
"It's more like a normal class in Spanish," she said.
Though many native students excel at speaking, they still have words to learn. For instance, when Perez questioned students in class about their essays on their dream houses, the teenagers sometimes lapsed into English to explain why they wanted a two-story house or a home in Mississippi.
Alex, like some of his friends, signed up for the class because he thought it would be an "easy A," but said he's not fluent in Spanish and sometimes struggles with the vocabulary.
"I thought it was going to be easy," he said, "but it's a little harder than I thought it would be."
Contact staff writer Rani Gupta at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2625, or rgupta@californian.com.
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Mexican-born parents?? wrote on Nov 25, 2007 12:52 AM:"Mexican-born parents"--- what a nice way of describing I-L-L-E-G-A-L A-L-I-E-N-S
Mexican-born parents?? wrote on Nov 25, 2007 12:57 AM:"Mexican-born parents"--- what a nice way of describing I-L-L-E-G-A-L A-L-I-E-N-S. So these kids speak Spanish fluently, but can't write or read it as they should? Well, that is okay, isn't it? Why bother learning anything? It isn't like these kids are going to break the mold of Mexican/Latino/Hispanic precedence in low performance anytime soon. It is all good, my friends. Speak it or don't, learn or don't-- the United States will continue to cater to lawbreakers thanks to sell-outs!
peter wrote on Nov 25, 2007 8:14 AM:This is great . So kids can have a class for themselves. I love it.
Dan wrote on Nov 25, 2007 8:56 AM:I thought that public schools couldn't disgust me any more than they already do. I was wrong.
Ron wrote on Nov 25, 2007 9:52 AM:"They're getting introduced to all the authors of the Spanish-speaking world," Perez said. How wonderful! Now, if someone could only introduce them to all the authors of the English-speaking world.
Why do we let this happen? wrote on Nov 25, 2007 11:16 AM:We do legal american citizens allow this to happen and for us to spend our legal tax money on this when we legally don't have to? Why do we allow a illegals to overrule America? This would never be tolerated in another country. We need to take a stand; but the politicians don't because they are worried about their image. This is ridiculous that we allow this mexican stuff in America. We are not mexican. We should be proud of our ENGLISH language. Those who enter our country need to learn our language on their own or go back to their own country. This is ridiculous!
esteban wrote on Nov 25, 2007 12:21 PM:Ron, give me a break. I bet you cannot name on novel you have read in the last 10 years that is printed in English let alone another language. Spanish people, Spanish, will be the language of the future. Also, NO, Mexican born does not mean illegal, you folks are so mean. Now that the turkey is gone you forget all about giving....shame.
brian wrote on Nov 25, 2007 1:34 PM:we need to stand up and say enough of this!! this is america!! we speak english here!! enough is enough! i will be at the next board meeting to protest this!
Modern wrote on Nov 25, 2007 7:12 PM:Sorry Steven (esteban), this country was founded on English and it will stay that way. I too will be at the next board meeting to protest.
livewire wrote on Nov 26, 2007 12:59 AM:So they are taking classes to learn spanish which they already know from speaking at home, cheeze why not test them in english and see if they need an english class instead??? Funny how you can see over time trends to make this country a spanish country, how they can get around and change things slowly. Lets define what american means, we need to define the word american into law, this would fix alot of this crap and make laws more clear to understand. Oh ya dont forget the Health bill for all californians, that includes illegals as well. Fork out the doh tax payers as always.
Seriously? wrote on Nov 26, 2007 1:30 PM:“Mexican-born” does not mean illegal alien. Not every United States resident born in Mexico came here illegally. Also, a Mexican/Latino/Hispanic background does not guarantee low performance. I’m Mexican-American, was on honor roll throughout my education, was valedictorian when I graduated college, and now have a successful management career in government. I have never had a government handout, nor have any of my family members. Several of you are “disgusted” that high schools teach Spanish. Perhaps you are forgetting the fine arts requirements for high school graduation? Or the admission requirements for colleges and universities? I happen to think teaching high school students Spanish is slightly more beneficial than teaching them French, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. You can, of course, make that decision with your children and their high school counselors.
JD wrote on Nov 27, 2007 3:08 AM:The majority of the posters here disgust me. Absolutely disgust me. The valedictorian at TVHS the year I graduated was latina, and she is one of the smartest, kindest people I know. Spanish-speaking DOES NOT MEAN illegal. And this is hardly a threat to our English-language. We aren't requiring this class of anybody, just offering a better solution to those who already speak Spanish. They still have to take and pass english... this is just holistic development. I applaud this idea, and condemn those of you who espouse your ignorance on this board.
Modern wrote on Nov 27, 2007 7:55 AM:Good for you Seriously. And if everyone thought like you, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
esteban wrote on Nov 27, 2007 9:20 AM:Modern, your name must be a misnomer, because your living in the past. English, because of forces that I don't have the time to explain to you, will share space with other languages. Also, my name is not Steven...maybe you should go back to England if you desire to just speak English?
Modern wrote on Nov 27, 2007 12:41 PM:And maybe you should go back to Spain if you want to speak Spanish STEVEN? Last time I checked, this country was founded on English. And will stay English, even with the influx of illegal immigrants who pour into this country with no education, no skills, but plenty of diseases and sicknesses that have been eliminated in the US. Is this supposed to make us happy STEVEN?
An American wrote on Nov 27, 2007 1:19 PM: We do legal american citizens allow this to happen and for us to spend our legal tax money on this when we legally don't have to? Why do we allow a illegals to overrule America? This would never be tolerated in another country. We need to take a stand; but the politicians don't because they are worried about their image. This is ridiculous that we allow this mexican stuff in America. We are not mexican. We should be proud of our ENGLISH language. Those who enter our country need to learn our language on their own or go back to their own country. This is ridiculous! " "We do legal american citizens"? It seems you need a grammar class. I guess I'll be at the board meeting to counter all the racist morons posting on here.
Even more modern wrote on Nov 27, 2007 1:38 PM:This absolutely disgust me. Hot dang. I just hate it when people try and educate each other. It makes me soooo angry. This is America! This country was founded by white English speaking men so only white English speaking men should be allowed to get a education. Our culture is precious, and God, and the Bible.
CCT wrote on Nov 27, 2007 3:14 PM:If you live in a country in Europe, you speak the languages of all the neighboring countries around you. Why should we be any different? Yes, it'd be nice if more people immigrating to the US worked on their english; but we need to learn their languages as well.
Roberto1 wrote on Nov 30, 2007 6:59 PM:How about demanding being included in learning spanish, mandarin, french etc instead of worrying that someone has the edge on your children?
toots wrote on Dec 15, 2007 7:04 AM:Yes, in Europe people speak several languages. That is because it takes only an hour or so to be in another country. It is different here. The only countries we can get to by car that speak another language is Mexico--and by the way, you had better have ID if you want to go there. And even if you become a citizen of Mexico, you are not allowed to vote nor own waterfront property. But, hey, if you want to come here, just wander across the border and you will receive free health care,free education, and perhaps welfare, etc., etc. Free, or course, means the American taxpayer gets to pay for it!!!
gcsm wrote on Mar 11, 2008 3:50 PM:Dear "Even more modern"
Your writting is awful and you have no idea what you are talking about. What does God and the Bible have to do with this?? Religion is another topic. And Latinos are very religious by the way, but again, it's not the topic. If you are so spiritual,you must also know that to God we are all the same, God is not racist, He was mercyful.
And If you ever read some history you must remember that Thomas Jefferson (one of your presidents, in case you don't know) said that "all men are created iqual".
I'm white, have two white kids, married with american, you would never tell that I'm LATINA if you see me.
Please people read more, pray more..that is going to make you wiser,not this ignorant WAR that you are making out of racism.
karina wrote on May 18, 2008 5:56 PM:dominican republic is the best it has the most famous colors red and blue i love that contry if you visit it there you will be so happpy it is warm over there andit is bueatiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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