The Standard Times - April 4, 2013
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130404/OPINION/304040338
Cynthia Yoken, New Bedford
Relevant Quotes: (Please follow the link above to read the complete article.)
As a retired foreign language teacher from the New Bedford Public Schools, I am happy that the Esperanza School will soon offer the children of New Bedford the opportunity to be bilingual and to learn two languages. It is a win-win situation for the children from Spanish-speaking homes to learn English in the same classroom with native-born students who will have the opportunity to learn Spanish.
Now, with a formal program in place as the Esperanza School, it will be even better to have our own English-speaking students have the opportunity to learn Spanish and to continue it through high school along with their Spanish-speaking peers. The friendships that will develop from the interactions between the English-speaking child and the Spanish-speaking child will be wonderful, as each child will help the other to learn about American culture and Spanish or Latin American culture.
I applaud the designers of the Esperanza School, who have worked hard to set up such a fine model for our young people in New Bedford.
