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The program at J.H.S. 190 will comprise one class of seventh graders in its first year, consisting of 15 strong, native English speakers, and 15 native Spanish speakers, none of whom are particularly proficient in his or her non-native language.
Because J.H.S. 190 does not have a particularly large population of English-as-a-Second-Language students, Berenberg said it was possible the school could accept students from other places in the district.
Though the city’s DLPs focus overwhelmingly on teaching Spanish and English together, such as will be the case at J.H.S. 190, some schools offer programs in other languages as well: P.S. 32, a school in Flushing, for example, offers a DLP in Korean; While P.S. 163, also in Flushing, offers one in Chinese.
Berenberg explained that, for DLP students, science and language arts classes will be taught both in Spanish and in English. social studies and math will be taught in English only, but will offer native Spanish speakers supplementary text materials in Spanish as well.
“Any child or young adult that can speak more than one language does have better career opportunities,” Berenberg said. “Knowing the way globalization is going today, it’s a need in the schools for children to excel and move ahead and be successful in jobs.”
Berenberg said she recognized that some parents would automatically have concerns about the level of education, and over whether teaching in two languages might impede core learning.
She cited research, provided by the Center for Applied Linguistics, which showed that children in DLPs actually tend to score higher on standardized tests. As part of the program, academic assessments will be made every five or six weeks, the results of which will be passed along to parents.
“We want their input,” Berenberg said. “We want the community to be a part of this program.”
As for curriculum, it will be exactly the same as the curriculum for students in regular classes.
Berenberg also cited the fact that the program had already been in place for several years and was widespread as proof of the program’s ongoing success.
“It’s not an experiment,” she said. “It’s here. This is a program that’s up and running all over the place. We’re just lucky enough to have it here.”
Ted Kladopoulos, an English teacher who has taught at J.H.S. 190 for seven years, is one of five teachers selected to teach the program. As a degree-holder in both English and Political Science, along with an advanced degree in Public Administration, he will be teaching the social studies component of the program.
“Students have to be prepared to work in a global economy,” Kladopoulos said. “The world has gotten smaller.
“As far as something that’s more reflective of the world we live in, that got me excited about his program,” he added.
He hoped the program would help create “global citizens” out of students, helping them to be more aware of global events, and more able to thoughtfully judge media reports.
“I would like them to learn not only history but its role in the world today,” he said.
Parents who are interested in enrolling their students in the program for this fall’s seventh grade class can contact Berenberg at (718) 830-4970. The school will be accepting applications through mid-June.
