Bridge program extends DLI programs to high schools

By Kayla A. Swenson

Students enrolled in Utah Dual Language Immersion programs may be able to take college language credits in high school starting in the fall of 2016. The new addition is called the Bridge program.

The Bridge program will give DLI students the opportunity to take the Advanced Placement exam as freshmen and with a passing grade, advance to college language classes in high school. Bridge program graduates will leave high school with a minor’s degree in their target language.

“It’s more like a reward system for the students,”said Chemaris Ethington, a high school Spanish teacher who is researching the progress of the Bridge program. “There will be three college credits offered each semester in 10th, 11th and 12th grade.”

 

The Bridge program is an extension of state DLI programs where elementary students spend half of their day learning core curriculum in the target language and the other half in English.

“The students are immersed in the program since first grade and by the time they get to sixth grade they will have the equivalent of Spanish 2 at a high school level,” Chemaris said.

“By 9th grade their proficiency is the same as an undergraduate student in the language,” she said. “The Bridge program gives the student the chance to continue studying.”

In 2008, the Utah Senate passed the International Initiatives Bill providing school districts with the funding to start immersion programs in Chinese, Spanish and French. The idea of a bridge program for high schools was just beginning.

“It’s groundbreaking,” said Tempe Mabe, a student studying to be a  dual language immersion teacher. “With the bridge program, students really will be able to learn to communicate on numerous levels.”

On March 20,  seven of Utah’s major institutions met to discuss the implementation of the Bridge program.

Ethington attended the meeting and said that they discussed how college language professors would be selected to teach DLI students and what courses would be taught.

The institutions are considering offering three 3000 level courses in 2016: Spanish film, culture and Spanish for the proficience. The professors chosen to teach in the Bridge program but have a PHD and experience teaching.

“It’s not set in stone because the universities have to approve it,” Ethington said. “They have to essentially be in the same boat.”

It is crucial that all the universities agree so that the language credit will be received at any university.

While the Bridge program is still in the planning stages, Ethington said she is excited for the chance to teach at the high school level but teach university classes.