Students thrive in Dual Language program

Inside classrooms at Thompson Elementary, students are learning much more than vocabulary and grammar. Through the school’s Dual Language program, they are building confidence, developing academic skills in two languages, and gaining tools that can benefit them for the rest of their lives.

From the earliest grades, students begin learning academic content in Spanish while also developing their English skills. For kindergarten teacher Vanessa Tepalcingo, watching students take those first steps is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

“They come in knowing nothing, and then you see so much growth through the year,” Tepalcingo said. “They learn their letters, their letter sounds, how to read, how to write, all their numbers. And they’re learning it all in a whole new language, which is amazing to see.”

Those early years lay the groundwork for continued growth as students move through the program. By the time they reach the upper grades -- and eventually middle and high school -- the academic expectations have grown, but so has the confidence students bring with them.

“One of the biggest improvements I have seen in students is their self-confidence. I work with fifth graders in particular, and at the beginning of the school year, students are often very nervous and afraid because they have heard that fifth grade is a challenging year, and honestly, it is,” said fifth grade teacher Keren Villanueva. “The children are learning more complex content. However, the most exciting thing is that as the year progresses, the students grow, surpass themselves, and strengthen their confidence. In addition, they begin to learn the content in Spanish, and then they can master it in English.”

That ability to learn and communicate in more than one language can have lifelong benefits, both academically and personally. Thompson Elementary Principal Arturo Gonzalez said research shows the advantages of bilingual learning extend well beyond the classroom.

“Medical research has identified that there are benefits to learning more than one language. Everything from decreasing the probability of dementia, to students being able to function and be successful in different settings because they develop the skills of working with different people,” he said.