Posted on 03/02/2007 5:25:05 AM PST by engrpat
Spanish Speaking Students On Fast Track To College
Steve Pickett
Reporting
(CBS 11 News) DALLAS Spanish speaking students at Sunset High School in Dallas are getting on a fast track to college.
The fruits of their future to college come with a Spanish flavor, and these students are best in the nation.
Spanish is officially foreign language coursework in Dallas schools.
But inside Sunset High School, Spanish is the primary language for hundreds of students. Teacher Dale Reeves uses the Spanish to teach another lesson.
"There's a saying in Spanish: que habla dos idiomas valle' per dos," said Reeves. "Whoever can speak two languages is worth twice as much."
The school is pushing Spanish speaking students toward college level Spanish tests.
Close to 200 Sunset students passed the advanced placement Spanish exam. These students are tops in the nation for the number of AP Spanish tests taken and passed.
Passing the college level test provides college level credits for them.
"They already have knowledge the average American student doesn't have, and if they realize they can earn 1/8 of a college degree, I believe they're more likely to go on," said teacher Tom Spring.
"I want to go to college," said student Juan Carlos Gonzalez. "I want these credits. That was ultimately why I took this test."
Most students at this high school already have some level of Spanish comprehension and most are fluent. But that doesn't necessarily mean they can pass a college level test.
But every year more Sunset students are at least trying. Sunset also encourages students to become advanced placement scholars by taking AP Spanish literature exams.
(CBS 11 News)
what an idiotic comment ... by your logic, every native English speaker should be able to get straight "A"s in English classes with no effort as well as breeze thru the College Board Advanced Placement English test.
So you are a native English speaker ... what was the verbal portion of your SAT scored? Perfect 800? How did you do in all your English classes in HS and college? Straight A's while sleep walking thru them?
Yes you are right and I am wrong, I dont see why they would even sign up for a Spanish class or why this story was written. Silly me.
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