EVERETT — Angela Frees remembers when her 8-year-old son helped a Spanish-speaking customer order food at a deli.
Her son speaks Spanish thanks to Emerson Elementary School’s dual language program, which is set to expand to Silver Lake Elementary School in the fall.
Right now, students in 12 classes at Emerson spend their days learning mostly in Spanish. The two new classes of kindergarten students at Silver Lake will begin next school year.
In 2021, the dual language program started in kindergarten classes at Emerson. The school has added a grade level each year since, and the program will expand to fourth grade in the fall. A nearly equal number of English and Spanish speaking families participate. In their first year, students learn 90% in Spanish and 10% in English. The Spanish to English ratio decreases in each grade, until 50:50 in fifth grade.
Parents of students in the program, including Abigail Rios, say their kids are fluent in English and Spanish for their ages. Rios said her third grader is reading above his grade level in both languages.
“They’re like little sponges that absorb everything,” Rios said. “For them, it’s easier to learn two languages at the same time.”
Some parents in the program are learning a new language along with their kids, including Darcie Hammer, who has two kids in the program. She didn’t leave the country until she was in college and wanted her kids to experience other cultures sooner than she did.
“A dual language program really expands their worldview, their appreciation for other cultures and an acknowledgement that the world is a lot bigger than the United States,” Hammer said.
Some parents have noticed that the program has helped their kids become more connected to their community. Frees said her dad is looking forward to her son’s help in connecting him with Spanish-speaking friends he’s made since he moved to Yakima Valley.
“When I was in high school, a lot of the big push to learn another language was so you can be a business person, and you can start a company and do world business stuff,” she said. “And I just want him to have the opportunity to be a part of the community and help others.”
The goal is not only for students to be bilingual, said Emerson Principal Blythe Young, but also biliterate and socioculturally competent.
“It’s a very good program for my son,” said parent Monica Santiago in Spanish. “Now he can read and write in Spanish.”
Parent Brianne Yorlang learned Spanish as an adult to connect with her Mexican heritage. She wanted her children to learn Spanish, so she looked into moving to Monroe or Mount Vernon so they could participate in a dual language program. The year before her son Lorenzo started kindergarten, Everett started the program at Emerson.
“My favorite part is that I can learn new things and have a lot more friends,” said Lorenzo, who’s now in third grade.
The district plans to expand the dual language program to Evergreen Middle School by 2027 and Cascade High School by 2030.
Silver Lake is holding an informational webinar Feb. 26. Applications are are available for families at the Everett School District website.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the number of dual language classes at Emerson Elementary School and misidentified Darcie Hammer. A photo caption also misidentified Isabella Eldridge.
Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.
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