MacArthur Elementary School is celebrating

15 years of learning in two languages in 2009-2010!

In 1994, MacArthur started District 54’s first English Spanish dual language program with one kindergarten classroom. Each year the program grew, and MacArthur now has dual-language classrooms at every grade level. When the first class was ready to enter junior high school, District 54 started a dual-language program at Eisenhower Junior High as well.

The Dual Language Program is unique because all children in the classroom learn two languages and cultures. It is comprised of two groups of students, native English speakers and native speakers of a language other than English. Each student is both a language expert and a language learner, so all students are at the same level.

The goals of the program are as follows:

• To perform academically at grade level commensurate with their monolingual English-speaking peers.
• To use two languages comfortably and effectively in social situations appropriate for their age level
• To communicate effectively through reading and writing in two languages at a level appropriate for their age
• To demonstrate an appreciation of cultural diversity and cross-cultural competence across a variety of social situations

The program’s success led to more and more parents wanting to enroll their children in dual language. Therefore, over the years, District 54 has added English-Spanish dual language programs at Enders-Salk, Hanover Highlands and Link elementary schools and Keller Junior High School. In addition, Dooley Elementary School and Addams Junior High School now have Japanese-English Dual Language Programs.

Please help us celebrate this success by visiting MacArthur from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, to reunite with friends and families and enjoy presentations by the Ballet Folklorico Nacional, our own MacArthur dance group and current dual-language students. There will also be crafts for kids and a DJ playing songs in English and Spanish.

MacArthur Elementary School is located at 1800 Chippendale Road in Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Volunteers are needed. For more information, call the school at (847) 357-6650.

Frequently asked questions about the Dual Language Program

What are the expectations of the Dual Language program?

After six to seven years of instruction, the goals of the Dual Language Program are:

• Students will perform academically at grade level in two languages commensurate with monolingual English speaking peers.
• Students will use two languages comfortably and effectively in social situations appropriate for age level.
• Students will communicate effectively through reading and writing in two languages at a level appropriate for their age.
• Students will demonstrate an appreciation of cultural diversity and cross-cultural competence across a variety of social situations.

What are the benefits for my child in the Dual Language program?

    For native English speakers, your child will have the gift of developing Spanish as a second language at an early age while continuing to grow in English.  For Native Spanish speakers, your child will be able to develop English as a second language while enriching their mother tongue,  Spanish.  All children will learn appropriate academic skills while developing their bilingual proficiency.  Moreover, your child will be able to develop social skills that allow him/her to make friends in a multicultural and multilingual world.

Will my child fall behind in basic skills like Reading, Writing and Math because of the second language? 

    No.  Studies have shown that children in Dual Language programs, as a group, perform the same or better than their monolingual English speaking peers in Achievement Tests in Math, Reading and Writing.  Current results of Terra Nova tests of Dual Language students in School District 54 show the same outcome.

Will my child learn to read and write in English or Spanish first?

    Although children are taught to read and write first in their respective native languages, both English and Spanish literacy is taught through reading and writing workshops, beginning in Kindergarten.  Usually, by third grade, many children read and write comfortably in their native language and are developing literacy skills in the second language. 

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Authors: Dual Language Teachers MacArthur School
Created: 01/31/00; Last updated 09/03/09
School District 54, Schaumburg, Illinois
http://web54.sd54.k12.il.us/schools/macarthur/duallang.htm