Shools

Learning more than a language

Richey Elementary becomes the third public school in the county to offer a Spanish immersion class.

By MICHELE MILLER, Times Staff Writer
Published September 19, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Lee Anne Yerkey knew there was a need for a Spanish immersion class at her school. But the assistant principal didn't anticipate how much people wanted it.

It turns out plenty of people were eager to jump on the bandwagon soon after Yerkey first put out feelers to teachers and parents at Richey Elementary.

That was last spring.

Now it's a new school year and the class is filled, six teachers are on board and 125 students are on the waiting list.

The Spanish immersion class is the third offered in Pasco County public schools. Both Seven Springs and Northwest Elementary have well-established Spanish immersion programs in west Pasco County.

Yerkey, who first taught the program at Northwest Elementary, got her training by flying to Mexico for an adult Spanish immersion program with fellow teachers and administrators.

This past summer, Richey teachers Dawn Knowles, Nikki Beckley, Cindy Flynn, Sarah Schilens, Kelly Hepner and Andrea Mountain took a refresher conversational Spanish class at Pasco-Hernando Community College.

"They did pretty well keeping up with the college students," said Yerkey. "They all got an A."

Now, for 20 minutes a day, students in kindergarten through fifth grade in the Los Tigres Blancos (White Tigers) team get Spanish language lessons from these teachers. Presently they are learning new words such as gracias, (thank you); de nada (you're welcome); el bano (bathroom); and the self-evident fantastico.

"It's pretty good learning a new language," said fourth-grader Ryan Dawson.

"They pick it up like that," said fourth-grade teacher Kelly Hepner as she snapped her fingers. "It's amazing."

There is added incentive from the special Fiesta Fridays, when students spend extra time learning about Spanish cultures, with special cooking, games, and arts and crafts.

"It's wonderful - it's absolutely wonderful," said second-grade teacher Cindy Flynn, who was grateful to get some help from parent volunteer Maribel Hernandez.

English-speaking students have shown a passion for learning another language, she said. There's some empathy to be learned, too, said Flynn.

"They realize learning another language isn't easy," she said. "And it's empowering for the Spanish speaking students."

Out of the 120 students on the team, 38 came into the class as Spanish speakers. For them, this is a time to shine.

"For 20 minutes a day they are the top students," said Yerkey. "They are the ones helping their teachers."

They include kids like Rodolfo Tierrablanca, who last week showed that not only could he count from uno to diez, he could continue with "once" and beyond - prompting loads of giggles from the rest of the kindergarten and first-grade students in his class.

"I like it very much," said fourth-grader Alex Tierrablanca, of being called on to help his teacher, Kelly Hepner. "I help her with some words."

"You couldn't ask for anything better," said kindergarten teacher Dawn Knowles. For the past six years she has been working with the ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) program at Richey Elementary.

"This is easy," she said. "Last year I had students speaking seven different languages in my class. I've found that the ESOL kids are always going to feel a little bit behind, but at least for 20 minutes a day, they have a leg up. I'll say something in Spanish to the class and the English speakers won't know what I'm saying, but the Spanish speakers will have these big smiles. They tell me, 'I knew that.'"

[Last modified September 18, 2007, 20:19:47]