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This article is part two of two addressing the DLI program.
On Feb. 18 the NS school board decided to keep the DLI program but under a more watchful eye. Each school year has been a new year for the program. DLI hasn’t made it through all of the highschool, which means it still has room for improvement. The program is still a young program and hasn’t had time to reach its full potential.
“We’re in a rural community, so it’s awesome that we have the opportunity to become proficient at a foreign language,” junior Lily Mitchell said. “Especially one that is applicable to the area in which we live where we have so many people who speak Spanish.”
It’s true that there are flaws within the DLI program, but there’s hope for its future.
“If we don’t get rid of the program I think overall the program will just improve,” Mitchell said. “With experience the program will only get better for the future generation.”
With hope for the future children some still wonder what actually happens inside the classes.
“Some people say that it’s teacher facilitated not so much teacher taught,” teacher Greg Dettinger said. “I don’t do a lot of lecturing. There are days, especially early on in the year, especially with the AP class, where I did a lot of explicit verb instruction but as we go through the year further and further, we don’t do that as much anymore.”
When the AP test results came back this previous year they were lower than the first year’s results. But the problems with the results extended beyond just the students’ knowledge. This past year they did the AP test in the band room, which had kids going in and out to grab instruments and the bells going off every class period.
“There are three things that need to change (with the test administration),” Dettinger said. “One, the location of the tests. Two, people not trained well enough to have to give the test. Three, technology. I feel like the DLI program needs to stay, it has to stay, but we need home grown teachers who are from here and will stay.”
But keeping the program presents some real challenges.
A problem with DLI is the fact that if a kid is older than second grade, and they don’t know Spanish, they can’t be in the DLI program and have to go to another school. Parents have had problems with sending their kids to a different school than the one in town, however, that’s not the case for all parents.
There are kids from all over Sanpete who were sent to Moroni Elementary to learn Spanish.
“If you really want to go to a certain school, having to go to a different town shouldn’t be a big factor in it,” junior Maxwell Cox said. “It’s truly up to you, I wouldn’t say it was a terrible time. I hung out with friends and I found ways to fill in time, but ultimately it’s up to you.”
If the students pass the AP test with a 3 or more and continue through high school in the college Spanish class they can graduate with a bioliteracy diploma.
A problem with starting young is it’s difficult for the parents to help their kid with homework which can cause them to face difficulties wanting to stay in DLI.
“It’s still a brand new program,” Dettinger said. “We’re still wrapping up the third cohort and everything takes a while to grow. I just feel like some of the kids and their parents have just lost their passion for the program.”
For those who don’t speak English, the DLI program helps them pass necessary tests to prove that they know and understand the language.
“The WIDA test, which we have our kids who don’t qualify as English certified take, we only had one student out of the DLI program have to take that exam,” Dettinger said. “All of the other hispanic students in the school that took the DLI program passed.”
With some grateful to be out there are others who still appreciate learning spanish, even if it’s not an expanded vocabulary.
“Even though I dropped out, I think it’s a good thing,” Cox said. “Learning spanish taught me a different way to learn things compared to language arts or math. And knowing a little bit of Spanish that I do know has helped me when I work construction for my dad and everyone in there. I get to use it, and it’s very useful.”
Some do struggle with learning subjects in two different languages and connecting the dots to one another but it doesn’t stop them from at least trying.
“I would encourage others to join but only if they’re actually willing to put in the effort. If they don’t actually care to put in effort I would say no don’t do it because you’re going to be waiting for everyone else’s time and your own,” Mitchell said. “If you actually want to learn a foreign language and know that it’s not going to be fun all the time and easy then I would certainly encourage others to join.”
