|
|
Gifts sustain foreign language program in public schools June 2003 For Mari Jo Janke, a dream became reality when students at Meadowview Elementary School in Eau Claire participated in the first Spanish in the Schools program. “In other countries, so many children have a second language taught to them at an early age,” Janke said. “It’s such a benefit to them. That’s why I took the initiative to begin the Spanish in the Schools project, which introduces Spanish language instruction to elementary-aged children beginning at the second-grade level.” Janke, UW-Eau Claire’s director of publications, made a gift to the UW-Eau Claire Foundation to fund stipends for two university students to teach a voluntary Spanish class to elementary students. The first semester of the Spanish in the Schools program, which ran from January through May 2003, was the result of collaboration between Janke, the Foundation, UW-Eau Claire’s foreign languages department and Center for Service-Learning, and Meadowview teachers and administrators. UW-Eau Claire education majors Valerie Mumm and Lee Ann Pignet were selected as teachers for the pilot Spanish in the Schools program through an application and selection process coordinated by Paul Hoff, professor of foreign languages. Mumm and Pignet developed the program curriculum and provided language instruction to 34 Meadowview students, who attended one of two sections of the Spanish class during their lunch recess. In May both Mumm and Pignet received the UW-Eau Claire Excellence in Service-Learning Award for their work at Meadowview. Additional support through the Foundation for elementary foreign language education, including commitments from individuals and school parent-teacher organizations, has ensured an expanded Spanish in the Schools program for the 2003-04 academic year. The expanded program includes six area schools, 20 student teachers and the addition of French classes at some of the sites. Participating schools include Lakeshore, Manz, Meadowview, Putnam Heights and Robbins elementary schools in Eau Claire and Pedersen Elementary School in Altoona. Hoff noted that foreign language education is not formally introduced into the Eau Claire public schools’ curriculum until sixth grade. He said he is encouraged by the interest from parents and others in the community to establish foreign language education in the lower grades. “It’s always a challenge to get ongoing, consistent foreign language instruction in the elementary schools,” Hoff said. “With this interest in Spanish in the Schools by families, students and donors, hopefully the program can grow and continue.”
|
