Elementary Bilingual/ESL Department Information
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GPISD Mission
The mission of Galena Park I.S.D. is to prepare students to become productive citizents and lifelong learners.Bilingual/ESL Program Goal
The goal of the Bilingual/ESL Program is to empower students to become bicultural, biliterate and balanced bilinguals. The program model strives to maximize students’ linguistic and academic abilities helping them achieve advanced levels of competency. In a program of such additive caliber, students acquire a greater understanding, tolerance, appreciation and respect for other languages and the world.Program Description
The One-Way Dual Language program model at Galena Park I.S.D. serves English Language Learners in grades PK-5th. As a unique language and cultural learning environment that promotes additive bilingualism, our model clearly understands that academic competence in two languages takes time to develop. It is for this reason that we strive to find highly qualified individuals who demonstrate commitment and passion towards our students and our program. By providing content and literacy instruction in English and Spanish, our students’ cultural, social and personal education is continuously enriched.The One-Way Dual Language model takes advantage of children’s natural language learning skills. Instead of ‘teaching a language’, we teach through a language. Teachers use sheltered instructional strategies and literacy-based English language development techniques to ensure student success. Student success is measured by their ability to
- become fluent readers, writers and speakers of two languages
- reach academic performance at or above grade level
- develop positive cross-cultural attitudes and behaviors
This model capitalizes on the strengths of our students giving them the opportunity to truly become bilingual, biliterate and bicultural.