Dual Language Grads Soar on State Spanish Exam
The first cohort of students to complete the restructured dual language program in the Huntington School District notched a 100 percent passing rate on the state Spanish proficiency exam.
Carmen Kasper, district director of foreign language and bilingual programs, is understandably proud of the results. “The parents gave their full support to their children and to the program from its inception,” she said. This particular group of youngsters kicked off the program in September 2002 and completed it in June 2008 as fifth graders at Woodhull School. They took the state exam late last June and district officials have been poring over the results ever since.
“When the students entered sixth grade they all attended Spanish classes as part of their every day schedule, to prepare for the Spanish Regents,” Mrs. Kasper explained. The youngsters traveled to Huntington High School to sit for the state test, right alongside sophomores taking their own Spanish Regents exam.
Santiago Alzate and Lily Morris aced the state test as each scored a perfect 100. Emily Biblow, Leah Butz, Leslie Gonzalez, Maralin Palma, Tyler Burton and Henry Lucana scored between a 91 and 98. The rest of the group easily passed, too.
The fine showing on the proficiency exam culminated seven years of hard work by the students and their teachers and parents. By passing the test, the now seventh graders fulfilled the foreign language requirements for a high school diploma. “This is an impressive feat as this exam is normally taken by tenth graders in the Huntington School District,” noted Mrs. Kasper.
Jessica Medina, one of the district’s high school Spanish teachers, worked with the dual language program grads every day to not only enhance their already vast knowledge of Spanish, but to prepare them for the state exam, as well. Ms. Medina had students working on the four language skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking.
“The students’ writing skills are better than I ever expected them to be,” Ms. Medina said. “They are all excellent writers.” She knew the 100 word requirement for the Regents would not present an insurmountable obstacle for the students since they were regularly writing essays of 300-400 words.
The students enjoyed reading works from Spanish authors, exchanging opinions about the books and answering the “higher order” thinking questions posed by their teacher.
Mrs. Kasper and Huntington’s teachers weren’t the only ones happy with the perfect showing on the state exam. “The students successfully accomplished the goals they set out to accomplish in kindergarten – to become bilingual and bi-literate,” Mrs. Kasper said. “We are very proud of them and congratulate them on a job very well done!”
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