Frequently Asked Questions
What is HoLa?
What is HoLa’s educational approach?
What is Two-Way Immersion (TWI)?
What is 90-10?
What are the goals of the program?
How do students in TWI programs compare academically with those in English-only classes?
Will the curriculum sacrifice academic instruction in other subjects in order to provide more time for language instruction?
What does the research say about dual language education?
Are the advantages the same for native speakers of both Spanish and English?
How do I know if HoLa is right for my child?
How long does it take students to start understanding and speaking in Spanish?
Will learning Spanish interfere with the development of my child’s English skills?
Will my child be at a disadvantage if s/he enters the program after Kindergarten?
What if my child has trouble initially learning the second language?
When my child leaves HoLa, will s/he have trouble transitioning to an English-only school?
Is English used in Spanish immersion classrooms?
I don’t speak Spanish. How can I help my child with homework?
How can I remain involved in my child’s school experience if I don’t speak Spanish?
Will HoLa offer the same amenities and resources as public schools?
Will HoLa offer support for children with special needs?
Will students from other districts be admitted to HoLa?
What is the admissions process?
What is HoLa?
HoLa is a free, public dual language charter school that will open in September 2010, with grades K, 1 and 2, and will add a grade each year until it reaches K-5. Students will achieve grade-appropriate mastery of all core academic subjects, while becoming bilingual and biliterate (Spanish-English).
What is HoLa’s educational approach?
HoLa will use Two-Way Immersion (90-10 approach) to provide a traditional core curriculum through instruction in both Spanish and English, with a range of opportunities for creative expression and experiential learning. Teachers in immersion classrooms utilize a variety of innovative strategies to facilitate comprehension and communication, integrate linguistic and academic content within a single lesson, and differentiate instruction.
What is Two-Way Immersion (TWI)?
Considered the most effective model of dual language education, TWI brings native Spanish-speakers and non-Spanish-speakers together with the goal, for all students, of achieving academic excellence while becoming bilingual and biliterate. Students acquire knowledge and skills in all core content areas through instruction in both languages, with the added benefits associated with learning a second language at a young age. HoLa will implement TWI following the 90-10 approach.
What is 90-10?
90-10 is the approach to dual language classroom instruction that has demonstrated the highest levels of academic achievement and linguistic development for both native Spanish-speakers and English-speakers alike. 90-10 refers to the proportion of time teachers utilize Spanish vs. English as the language of instruction (90% Spanish / 10% English). HoLa will utilize a graduated 90-10 approach, whereby the majority of instruction (90%) will take place in Spanish for grades K and 1, with the ratio gradually tapering to 50% English and 50% Spanish in grades 4 and 5. (The exact breakdown is 90-10 for K and 1st grade; 80-20 for 2nd grade; 60-40 for 3rd grade; and 50-50 for 4th and 5th grades.)
What are the goals of the program?
HoLa students will:
• Develop high levels of verbal and written proficiency in both Spanish and English
• Achieve grade level (or above) academic performance and mastery of core content across all subject areas, in both Spanish and English
• Take advantage of the optimal window for learning a second language
• Benefit from an academic and competitive edge in continued education and the workplace
• Reap the many cognitive, academic and social benefits of bilingualism and biliteracy
• Develop positive cross-cultural attitudes and behaviors
How do students in TWI programs compare academically with those in English-only classes?
Both English- and Spanish-speakers perform at comparable or superior levels compared to same-language peers in other educational settings. On norm-referenced standardized tests of reading and math achievement in English, native English-speakers outscore their peers in English-only classrooms. English language learners who learn English in a TWI program score significantly higher than their English language learning peers in other kinds of programs and also perform on par with native English-speakers in English-only classrooms ( Lindholm-Leary, 2005; Lindholm-Leary & Borsato, in press).
HoLa students will be required to take the same standardized achievement tests as students in the Hoboken Public Schools and other districts across the state, along with program–specific measures of academic achievement and linguistic development.
Will the curriculum sacrifice academic instruction in other subjects in order to provide more time for language instruction?
No. The HoLa program is fundamentally academic, and will address the same New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards as all public schools in NJ. Bilingualism is a key goal that will result from specific teaching strategies in an immersion setting. The language component does not replace instructional time; rather, academic content is delivered primarily in Spanish in the early years so that language is a tool of instruction, not a subject in and of itself. Teachers will all be trained and certified in dual language education and will have mastered the classroom strategies that have proven effective in immersion settings. Language lessons are incorporated intrinsically into content throughout the day and strategies facilitate communication and understanding even when students are first exposed to a second language—but none of this is at the expense of academic content (rather, they are complementary). Differentiation of instruction is key in any classroom, but especially so in dual language classrooms. Immersion classrooms are rich, dynamic learning environments where students are challenged and stimulated on many levels: cognitively, academically, creatively and linguistically.
What does the research say about dual language education?
Leading researchers have established the benefits of acquiring a second language during the primary years, including the following:
• Participation in early foreign language shows positive results in areas of standardized testing (Armstrong & Rogers, 1997)
• Children who have studied a foreign language show greater cognitive development (Hakuta, 1990)
• Foreign language study has been shown to increase listening skills, memory, and a greater understanding of one’s own language (Lapkin, et al., 1990)
• Children studying foreign language have an improved self-concept and sense of achievement in school (Caine & Caine, 1997)
• Children in dual language programs develop a sense of cultural pluralism, openness and appreciation of other cultures (Met, 1995)
• Children have the ability to learn and excel in the pronunciation of a foreign language, thus achieving more native-like levels of proficiency (Krashen, et al., 1982)
Are the advantages the same for native speakers of both Spanish and English?
Yes. Research demonstrates that the advantages are the same for both English-speakers and native Spanish-speakers. The TWI model allows students in both groups to master a second language while maintaining a challenging academic curriculum, and TWI has been found to be the most successful model for helping English Language Learners succeed academically (Thomas & Collier, 2002).
How do I know if HoLa is right for my child?
Students from different ethnic, social, and language backgrounds, and with varying academic strengths and needs, have all benefited from dual language education. There is no particular type of student that can (or cannot) flourish in TWI programs.
How long does it take students to start understanding and speaking in Spanish?
Students new to Spanish generally start understanding classroom routines and simple phrases a few weeks after starting the program. They are exposed to basic vocabulary and commands in Spanish from the first day they arrive in school. Comprehension generally precedes production when it comes to language acquisition.
Two or three weeks after starting the program, students answer simple questions such as “How are you?” and “What day of the week is it?” with one word answers, such as “Fine” and “Monday.” By repeating what the teacher or another student says, the second language learner begins to internalize vocabulary and language structures, and the learning curve tends to increase rapidly over the course of the first year. By the second year in the program (usually1st grade), most students can express themselves in full sentences. Progress continues at a steady pace until children reach a new level of confidence and proficiency by the third year (usually 2nd grade).
Will learning Spanish interfere with the development of my child’s English skills?
No. In fact, in most cases, learning another language enhances a child’s native language ability. Studies have shown that no long-term delay in native language development occurs in children participating in immersion programs. In fact, children enrolled in foreign language programs score statistically higher on standardized tests conducted in English. A number of reports have shown that children who have learned a second language earn higher SAT scores, particularly on the verbal section of the test (which is delivered in English). One study showed that by the fifth year of an immersion program, students outperformed all comparison groups and remained high academic achievers throughout their schooling.
Will my child be at a disadvantage if s/he enters the program after Kindergarten?
Students are welcome to enter the program at any grade, space permitting, and all children will receive academic and linguistic support according to their individual needs. If an English-speaking student enters the school after 1st grade, s/he will likely benefit from SSL support (Spanish as a Second Language). However, literacy skills transfer readily from one language to another, so that once a student has learned to read in English, s/he can quickly learn to apply these skills to reading in Spanish, and vice versa.
In the first year of operations, children entering 1st and 2nd grade will all be starting the program together, so none will be at a particular advantage or disadvantage. For this unique first year, certain modifications will be made for the class entering 2nd grade because the students will not have the foundation in Spanish immersion that subsequent classes will have had by 2nd grade. This one cohort of students will start with 50% instruction in Spanish and 50% in English, and will continue with the same proportion through 5th grade. Entering K and 1st graders will start with 90% Spanish and 10% English, and will follow the gradual tapering to 50-50 described above.
What if my child has trouble initially learning the second language?
The HoLa program will provide ESL and SSL support as necessary. ESL (English as a Second Language) will be offered to students who arrive with little or no English exposure. These students will be identified upon enrollment, and monitored through ongoing assessment. SSL (Spanish as a Second Language) will be offered to students who arrive after 1st grade and have little or no Spanish, or who need extra help with language acquisition; these students will be identified by teachers through observation and classroom assessment.
When my child leaves HoLa, will s/he have trouble transitioning to an English-only school?
No. Upon completion of the program, HoLa graduates will have high levels of academic proficiency in both Spanish and English, and will be able to transition into any type of educational setting. If a child leaves before completing the program, academic content and literacy skills acquired will transfer readily from one language to another, sometimes after a brief transition period, depending on the situation.
Is English used in Spanish immersion classrooms?
On rare occasions, if a child needs to be comforted or cared for, this can be done in English. Otherwise, it is extremely important that only Spanish be used during designated Spanish instruction time, and vice versa (the ratio of Spanish/English instruction time will vary by grade). Breaking the consistency of the immersion environment is a hindrance to second language acquisition.
I don’t speak Spanish. How can I help my child with homework?
Speaking Spanish at home is not necessary for your child’s successful language acquisition or academic development. Parents may discuss academic concepts in the language spoken at home, giving students the opportunity to explain assignments in their first language. Students will develop second language skills independently at school. Your child’s teacher will also offer specific suggestions and support to help you assist your child with assignments and reinforce classroom lessons. Continue to read to your child regularly in English (or other native language). Reading skills readily transfer from one language to another, and the reinforcement of reading practice in the home is invaluable, regardless of the language in which it occurs.
How can I remain involved in my child’s school experience if I don’t speak Spanish?
Communication between school and family will be an essential element of the HoLa program. Open access to teachers and administrators will strengthen the home-school connection. Parents will be encouraged to participate in a variety of ways to enrich the dual language experience for both students and their families. A bilingual Family Liaison on staff will provide access to community resources and opportunities for involvement. All communications will be in both Spanish and English.
Will HoLa offer the same amenities and resources as public schools?
HoLa will provide aftercare for those who need it, as well as a lunch program. Enrichment classes and sports will evolve with the program, according to demand.
Will HoLa offer support for children with special needs?
As a public charter school, HoLa welcomes all children, and will accommodate each student according to his or her individual needs. Children with special needs will be provided with the resources they require, and HoLa will contract with a Child Study Team for evaluation and provision of services.
Will students from other districts be admitted to HoLa?
As a public charter school, HoLa must give admissions preference to Hoboken residents, but students from other districts may apply, and will be admitted if space permits in a given grade.
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What is the admissions process?
Applications are currently being accepted for grades K-2. If demand exceeds availability for a given grade, a public lottery will be held on January 14, 2010.