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| Dr. Joseph Ramos, Bilingual/ESL/World Language Director |
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Mission
Email me for more information on our Bilingual/ESL/ World Language departments!
The Bilingual/ESL/WL department is committed to implementing programs that foster the acquisition of English as a Second Language and World Languages such as Spanish, French, and Italian. Our goal is to help students become communicatively competent as well as gain a greater awareness of diverse cultures in order to promote better cross-cultural understanding. |
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| Maria Bustillo, Bilingual Supervisor |
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Email me for more information on our district's Bilingual department!
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| Anna Menzel, World Languages Supervisor |
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World Languages
Email me for more information on our World Languages programs and initiatives!
All the elementary schools in the district offer Spanish instruction to all students in grades 1-8. Students receive two 45-minute periods of Spanish instruction weekly. Students in grades 1-8 learn by doing, by trying out language, and by modifying it to serve communicative needs.
The district requires 10 World Language credits for high school graduation. Students can choose from French, Italian and/or Spanish. Each language offers a variety of courses that students can take depending upon their proficiency in the language and academic progress. Three high schools offer Advanced Placement in one or more World Language courses. Due to the large number of Spanish speaking students in our district, our World Languages Program offers three tracks for the Spanish courses: Spanish 1,2,3 and/or, 3H for non-Spanish speakers. Spanish 1L, 2L, 3L and/or, 3HL for Spanish heritage students. The World Languages Program also offers three years of Italian and French courses.
The instructional goals in the district’s World Languages Program are based on NJCCC standards that are aligned to the Five C’s for Foreign Language Education: Communication, Culture, Connections, Comparisons and Communities. |
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| Mercedita Dacanay, ESL Supervisor |
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Email me for more information on the district's ESL programs and initiatives!
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| THE BILINGUAL INSTRUCTIONAL SETTINGS |
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| The Jersey City Public School District is committed to implementing Bilingual/English as a Second Language programs in accordance with state law (N.J.S.A. 18A:35-26, P.L. 1974, c.197) and administrative code (N.J.A.C. 6:31) aimed at meeting the educational needs of English Language Learners (ELLs) by affording equal access to educational opportunities. |
| Self-Contained (Spanish/English) |
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Following the district’s identification guidelines, Spanish-speaking elementary English Language Learners (ELL) are placed in Bilingual self-contained classes (Spanish / English) in schools designated as bilingual magnet sites. The Jersey City Public School district has deemed it appropriate to provide transportation to all ELL students from feeder schools who attend the Bilingual self-contained magnet sites. The grouping of Spanish-speaking students in self contained classes contributes to providing better services, e.g., full day bilingual instruction, a push-in ESL program that coordinates English proficiency, Language Arts development through content subject areas, and an environment that facilitates the implementation of testing accommodations. Spanish-speaking high school students assigned to self-contained bilingual classes attend two of the six high schools in the district that have been designated as magnet sites. Ferris High School and Dickinson High School are the two Magnet schools for bilingual self-contained students. ELL students (of other languages) are assigned to either of the schools based on their home address.
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Two schools in the Jersey City Public School District have a Dual Language program.
At the Michael Conti School, PS#5, the Dual Language Program includes Pre- K through grade four. At Frank R. Conwell School, PS#3, the Dual Language Program also includes Pre – K through grade five. The district is considering the expansion of dual language programs to other schools in subsequent years.
The guiding principle of the Dual Language Program is the belief in the importance for every child to learn more than one language. Our Dual Language rogram promotes bilingualism in Spanish and nglish. Young children are highly responsive to language acquisition, and second language learning comes most effortlessly early on in a child’s life. At the heart of our program is the conviction that acquiring a second language is not only a means to communicate with others; it is an essential tool for understanding and appreciating the thoughts and cultures of others in our growing multicultural society. Effective communication in more than one language is a highly valuable skill that can broaden the child’s future opportunities as a productive citizen and a quality worker in our global ommunity.
The Goals of the Dual Language Program
*Students will begin to communicate in both *Spanish and English.
*Students will maintain their native language while learning a second language
*Students will develop a greater understanding of two linguistic communities working towards a common goal.
*Students will continue to respect and gain awareness of different cultures.
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| Part-Time Bilingual – Bilingual Pull-out or Push-in |
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Following the district’s identification guidelines, ELL elementary school students who speak Arabic, Gujarati, Hindi, Korean, Vietnamese or Urdu are placed in bilingual pull-out/push-in classes where it is feasible. These students are taught language arts and mathematics using the native language to mediate instruction daily for 90 minutes. These students also receive one period of ESL instruction. High school students who speak one of these languages receive one 80 minute period of ESL instruction. Gujarati students in Dickinson High School also receive supplemental mathematics instruction in native language if they are identified in need of academic support in mathematics.
In addition, ELL elementary school students who speak Arabic, Gujarati, Hindi, Korean, Vietnamese or Urdu are placed in Bilingual part-time classes. These students are taught language arts and mathematics using the native language to mediate instruction daily for 90 minutes. These students also receive one period of ESL instruction. High school students who speak these languages are sent to two High School magnet centers; Dickinson High School and Ferris High School, where they receive 80 minute period of ESL instruction. Gujarati students in Dickinson High School also receive supplemental mathematics instruction in native language if they are identified in need of academic support in mathematics. The push-in model is implemented when possible.
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| High Intensity (ESL/ESL Reading) |
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The district offers a Bilingual self-contained full time program for Spanish speaking students in the elementary and secondary levels. The district also offers a Bilingual Pull Out/Push-In program to ELL students whose native language is Arabic, Korean, Vietnamese, Urdu, Gujarati and Hindi. In addition, the district offers a high intensity ESL/ESL Reading Program for students whose native language is other than the languages mentioned above. These students receive two periods of high intensity ESL. One period is based on language proficiency, the other period is based on language arts development with infusion of the content areas.
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For your Information!
Presently there are eighty two (82) ESL teachers in the Jersey City Public School district servicing ELLs in both the elementary and high school levels. Seventy five (75) of these teachers hold NJ Standard certificates for ESL. There are also seventy (70) Bilingual self-contained teachers servicing ELLs whose native language is Spanish. Sixty one (61) of these teachers hold NJ Standard certificates in Bilingual/Bicultural Education as well as Standard Elementary certificates. In addition, there are eighteen (18) Bilingual teachers servicing ELLs whose native language is other than Spanish. These languages include Arabic, Gujarati, Hindi, Korean, Urdu and Vietnamese. All these teachers are NJ certified in Bilingual/Bicultural Education and Elementary Education.
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http://njtesol-njbe.org/announcements/default.htm
to check out our newly added feature, the Action Alert.
Click on Action Alert and it will bring you directly to a page where you can access key education and immigration issues and put you in touch with your legislators simply by entering your zip code.
Enjoy!
Jory Samkoff
Socio-political concerns representative
NJTESOL/NJBE |
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