Dual Immersion Students (L-R): Valeria Mena, Sebastian Bonilla, Jennifer Brillones, Kayla Morrilla, Hugo Belias, Raynaldo Gomez, Joel Jiez, Natalie Bartoalie, Zach Evans, Emily Helms, and Caleb Brackett. (Photo Courtesy: Photo By: Emily Aguilar)

BY EMILY AGUILAR

Eastvale – On Nov. 3, foreign language teachers at Eleanor Roosevelt High School led a small presentation on the benefits of their Dual Immersion Program.

Dual Immersion is a curriculum that gives English-speaking students an opportunity to learn their school lessons in both in English and a selected foreign language. This begins early in elementary school, and is meant to sharpen a student’s intellect of a foreign language to prepare them for further academic successes.

Despite its numerous benefits, students tend to drop out of the Spanish program by high school. In fact, only 11 of the estimated 40 students are still in the program at ERHS. Therefore, a presentation led by AP Spanish Language teacher, Cristina Sanchez, and former AP Spanish and Spanish for Natives teacher, Brian Suchsland, was conducted in order to show 120 elementary students from Washington and Garrison Elementary Schools what to expect of the program as they continue their education.

“Our purpose is to show that even if the program is rigorous at first, it pays off in the end. Of course, learning Spanish efficiently only comes with practice, but it will help these students feel prepared in the world beyond school,” said Sanchez.

The 11 students participating in the Spanish Dual Immersion Program were present to convince other students to stay in the program. These students expressed their admiration for the program, spoke about their experiences, and also shared the interesting projects they did in class for Dia De Los Muertos.

“I think it’s important for these kids to stay in the program,” said Sebastian Bonilla, a junior who has been in the program since elementary school. “Spanish is an essential language to learn, and I believe that with this education, the students will go far in life.”

Through their admiration of the Spanish language, the students and teachers had high hopes that their words would persuade the students to stay in the program, which overall is intriguing, intellectual, and fun.