Inter-America: Adventist educators want more bilingual schools throughout the territory

Nearly 100 teachers, principals and educators from throughout the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Inter-America met for a special council to study strategies and tools to expand schools they oversee into carrying a bilingual program. The council on bilingualism took place at the Inter-American Division Headquarters, in Miami, Florida, Oct. 15-16, 2013. Image by Abel Marquez/IAD.

November 11, 2013 – Miami, Florida, United States…Libna Stevens/IAD

Providing bilingual training to pupils in hundreds of Adventist primary and secondary schools throughout the Inter-American Division (IAD) territory was the main focus during a recent council on bilingualism held in Miami, Florida. The meetings brought nearly 100 teachers, principals, and educators to study strategies and tools to help them study and expand schools they oversee into carrying a bilingual program.

Dr. Gamaliel Florez, education director for the church in Inter-America, said more bilingual schools will yield better prepared students with a missionary vision in the world today. IAD file photo.

“Our goal in the Education department is to pursue the highest possible quality of education, and this council was an opportunity to strengthen our existing bilingual institutions and motivate for new bilingual schools throughout the territory,” said Dr. Gamaliel Florez, education director for the church in Inter-America.

With only a dozen bilingual schools among the hundreds of schools in the IAD, the council offered the most updated criteria on bilingual education, including fundamental elements, teaching methodology, criteria for trained personnel, model schools, best practices, and more, said Florez.

Ileana Montalvo, principal of the Bella Vista Adventist Academy (BVAA) in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, spoke on the institution’s more than 30 years of experience with the English Immersion Program. As the model bilingual school in Inter-America, Montalvo said that BVAA worked on striving for making Spanish as a second language, focus on the school population and faculty and administration adhering to the its vision “to develop and strengthen in our students a character that reflects a passion for learning as well as develop a life of service to God and their fellowmen.”

Having more options available to students who attend bilingual schools is what educators are aiming for, said Florez.

Educators were encouraged to study, analyze and venture into establishing a model bilingual school in their respective church unions, or regions, explained Florez. “We want to make sure Inter-American universities are engaging in bilingual teacher training to support the success of bilingual schools not only in our Spanish-speaking territory but English and French territories as well.”

“The world today requires people to interact in cultures other than their own and for that learning a new language is essential,” said Florez. “Besides, the church hopes for students in its educational system gain a missionary vision and knowing another language aside from the native language can be a greater asset.”