Virtual session for Fall 2020

En Nuestra Lengua has decided to follow the decision of the AAPS district to begin the 2020-2021 school year with virtual classes.

Unfortunately, the program has also decided to postpone language evaluations this year, with the consequence that we are not able to accept new students to the program. Because of the pandemic, we will continue with a reduced online curriculum this academic year for those families who participated with us in our online Spring 2020 term.

During the Spring 2020 term, ENL continued with a virtual program during our 5 Saturdays. Each class met online with video. During the week, students completed their written assignments, and using the RazKids platform their Spanish reading assignments as well. By the end of the term, our team of reading evaluators was able to conduct reading level evaluations of each student using RazKids.

We hope to return to a normal schedule with classes at Bach School when the district decides that it is safe to have in-person classes.

En Nuestra Lengua (ENL) classes

ENL has Spanish immersion classes from pre-kindergarten (students must be at least 4 years old by September 1) through 4th grade. In addition, students who have completed the program may participate in Club Lector. We serve a multiethnic and multinational population of more than 150 students. The program relies on considerable community support, including certified teachers in our classrooms, language and reading level evaluators, child development specialists, Club Lector teacher aides, and teacher aides from area high schools and the University of Michigan. Each class has access to our extensive children’s collection of books in Spanish in the ENL Library. 

Curriculum

We have a complete Spanish immersion program. Our students receive all materials in Spanish. Spanish language learning takes place through curriculum content in Spanish. All of our immersion lesson plans are carefully designed to maximize Spanish language learning through curriculum content in Spanish. In their teaching, instructors include cultural themes and a variety of reading and writing opportunities in the curriculum, with three assessments during the academic year. Instructors speak Spanish exclusively during the class day, and students should refrain from speaking English in order to maximize the opportunity for learning Spanish during the ENL class day.

Younger students

In the classes for our younger students (Pingüinos, Alacanes, Jaguares, and Quetzales), we use visual and tactile learning materials. Crafts and music are also incorporated into the classes. The Pingüinos and Alacranes participate in a unique academic vocabulary enrichment program called "Proyecto World."  As students learn academic vocabulary in Spanish in class, they should be incorporating that knowledge in their spoken Spanish. A critical part of the learning process is student oral and written participation (Alacranes, Jaguares, and Quetzales study mathematics and writing), as well as conversations at home on their classroom experiences.

Older students

Classes for older students (Caimanes, Delfines, Águilas, and Cóndores) focus on science, mathematics, social and cultural studies, reading, and writing, all in Spanish. Each class has a year-long class project, such as a play, art project, or biography.

Students from Club Lector help in each ENL classroom for 90 minutes each Saturday. Afterwards, the Club meets for shared book reads discussions, field trips, or community activities.

Parent Community

Parental support is critical for student success in any school. A student in ENL needs his/her parents to be involved in school activities, to be in touch with the teacher, and to support Spanish reading and writing skill development of material learned in the ENL curriculum. Parents should support learning at home in the daily homework assignments and talking with their child about classroom experiences in Spanish.

Parents are expected to attend the 2-3 free workshops offered each term. The workshops can be an excellent source of advice and resources for parents to support the  success of their child in school. 

If consistent attendance on Saturdays is difficult, our experience is that the Spanish immersion program merely adds unproductive work and frustration to the student. In that situation we recommend that the family not continue in the program. If any student experiences difficulties in language development, good communication among parents, ENL teachers, and other professionals is essential to determine the best strategy for each family.