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Students describe immersion and AP Spanish programs as route to bilingualism and cultural learning
Summary
Elementary, middle and high school students described Lake Oswego's world-language and Spanish immersion programs to the board, saying the classes foster biliteracy, cultural learning and community-building and that some students plan to continue language study in college.
Three students representing Palisades Elementary, Lakeridge Middle School and Lake Oswego High School told the board Feb. 24 that the district's world-language and immersion programs produce measurable academic results and strong community benefits.
An elementary student said Palisades mixes English and Spanish lessons and uses group reading and project work to develop reading and writing skills; another middle-school student described testing into Spanish immersion through the STAMP assessment and increasing scores to earn a seal of biliteracy. A Lake Oswego High School junior in AP Spanish said the class' cultural emphasis (for example, lessons on Afro-Latinx history) and the chance to earn college credit were major reasons to continue language study.
Student speakers connected language study to broader civic and career goals: improving cross-cultural understanding, pursuing international-relations studies, and securing college credit or a minor through high-school coursework. Board members commended the students and asked about college plans; several students said they intended to pursue language in college.
The presentations were included in the board's consent-of-business sequence; trustees and staff said they view the district's immersion and AP offerings as strengths of the curriculum.
