The WW-P School District needs to get its facts straight: The method described in the August 27 News article “World Languages Take Center Stage” does not work for all students, especially students with learning differences such as auditory processing deficit and ADD. The school district does not have in-class support for those students in French classes. Even after many requests to provide us with CDs or other learning tools to supplement, the district did not have any and was unable to suggest any, stating that the dialect they teach is different and they don’t follow a program that is on a CD or have an interactive computer application learning program for special services students.
The district was unable to provide any assistance other than a pass/fail as an alternate to their grading system. We purchased a Spanish CD and learning tools and it did not mirror the school program, wasted a lot of time, and made no difference. I had to purchase my own Rosetta Stone French on eBay. After using it, the teacher told the student, who was proud of the accomplishments, that it’s not the dialect they use.
I was very disappointed with the hype your article portrayed since the WW-P school district is unable to conform to special services students. Students may be able to learn more from computer-based applications because they are visual, interactive, record and playback pronunciation of words, etc. and they can use headphones during the class to increase focus. WW-P should get with the program. Cathy Schiavo
West Windsor
A Reader comments: Erin McGovern, a 2008 graduate of High School South now studying at Boston College to be a Spanish teacher, saw Schiavo’s comments online. She studied Spanish since sixth grade in the WW-P system and this past semester wrote a research essay on “Foreign Language Accommodations for Students with Learning Disabilities.” As part of her research she requested a copy of the curriculum from the Spanish teacher at South. McGovern’s comment:
“Though the resources unfortunately may not currently be available within the French department, there are courses offered within the Spanish department specifically for special service students.
“These courses specifically cater to the needs of such students who may be dealing with learning disabilities or ADD. The class’s curriculum places the same focus on the language and the cultural elements that are emphasized within the WW-P News article, yet allow for the students to learn in a better suited environment with the aid of a teaching assistant in addition to the regular teacher who is suited to teach in the target language, thus promoting the immersion element.
“Research has shown that most students can learn in the immersion setting, as long as the educational setting can accommodate the students’ needs. Though it is currently only present within the Spanish department, the special service students do have an outlet to continue with the regular school requisites and reap the benefits of taking a world language.”
Schiavo responds: I am well aware of the Spanish in-class support, which is not helpful because all the students don’t have access to the assistant teacher during the entire class. And that is how much support these students need learning a new language.
I stand behind an interactive computer program with headphones for special services students. The past four years of Spanish and French were a waste of time and caused a lot of frustration. This subject can be taught better with a computer program and teacher support. Think outside the box.
