Category: Bilingualism

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2014 Dual Language Teaching Scholars

The first French-English dual language program began in Brooklyn in 2007 with some very smart and committed parents, an extremely supportive principal, and an exceptional teacher. The dual language programs (DLP) are founded on an innovative pedagogy which offers students a rare and dynamic hybrid way to learn! The programs serve French-speaking and non-French speaking students in the same classroom and foster multicultural understanding and intellectual curiosity. As of September 2014, we will grow to serve over 1,300 students throughout New York City, in 10 schools from pre-K to 7th grade. But there is work to be done as there are 22,000 French speaking children in the city. Today we have more than 50 teachers but simply put, we need more.

Finding talented and qualified teachers is difficult. But it is the key to our success. Supporting teacher training and growth will have a direct impact on the expansion of the French-English dual language programs in New York.

The French Embassy and French-American Cultural Exchange have partnered with the Societe des Professeurs Francais et Francophone d’Amerique to offer an annual scholarship to future bilingual teachers. Continue reading “2014 Dual Language Teaching Scholars”

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My new year’s resolution for 2014: make bilingual education grow in more public schools, more neighborhoods, and more towns

For the last 7 years, I have helped parents and their children gain access to much needed French-English bilingual education, and together we created several bilingual programs in public schools.This work was featured in countless national and international media outlets, particularly for the work done with developing bilingual programs in public schools throughout the United States, and in New York in particular.

I have now become an advocate for bilingual education and initiated the French bilingual revolution (a very positive and pacifist one!). Why bilingual education? Because it is good education. Schools hosting bilingual programs benefit from the diversity of the population they serve and the diversity of the teaching staff, able to incorporate linguistic and cultural differences into their pedagogy. This model is also rich in cognitive advancement and beneficial to the brain’s executive control functions as illustrated by neuroscience researchers. Continue reading “My new year’s resolution for 2014: make bilingual education grow in more public schools, more neighborhoods, and more towns”

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“Mapping the resurgence of French in North America” – My interview for Language Magazine

I was recently interviewed by Language magazine for an article about the resurgence of French in North America, La Renaissance (published in the May 2013 edition). I had the opportunity to speak about the development of French dual language programs in New York, and in the United States. Continue reading ““Mapping the resurgence of French in North America” – My interview for Language Magazine”

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Graduating First 5th Grade Cohort in French-English Bilingual Schools

For the first time in the history of dual-language programs in New York, a graduation ceremony for the bilingual students of P.S. 58 and P.S. 84 took place on June 19 at the Consulate General of France hosted by Consul General Bertrand Lortholary, Antonin Baudry, Cultural Counselor to the French Embassy, and myself. There were 59 fifth grade students, their parents, their teachers and members of the French community in attendance to celebrate the end of the academic year as well as the graduation of the middle school bound students. The ceremony was the culmination of a wave of dual-language programs opening in New York and throughout the United States, often in response to parents and educators who devote themselves to bilingualism and the French language. Both schools represented received a seal of approval from the French Government, the Label FrancEducation. Continue reading “Graduating First 5th Grade Cohort in French-English Bilingual Schools”

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[FR] Dossier New York – L’invasion du français : interview dans Le Nouvel Observateur

J’ai récemment été interviewé pour un article paru dans le Nouvel Observateur au sujet du bilinguisme et du développement des filières bilingues français-anglais à New York depuis quelques années. Un portrait paru dans le dossier spécial réalisé sur New York. Continue reading “[FR] Dossier New York – L’invasion du français : interview dans Le Nouvel Observateur”

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“Astoria Mom Looks to Start French Dual-Language Program in Queens” on DNA Info

The dual language program initiative in Astoria, Queens is featured in this article by DNAInfo New York. Local moms are trying to open a French dual language program in a public school in Astoria.

Families who want to get in touch with Diana Limongi, featured in the article,  can e-mail her at duallanguage.astoria@gmail.com.
 Continue reading ““Astoria Mom Looks to Start French Dual-Language Program in Queens” on DNA Info”

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[video] “Parlez-vous français?” on Independent Sources / CUNY TV

On this edition of Independent Sources, you can find out what’s behind the growing number of French dual language programs in New York City public schools, with interviews of Talcott Camp (Board Member, Education Française à New York – EFNY), Hélène Conway-Mouret, Minister of French Natinonals Abroad, Jeffrey S. Perl (Principal, M.S 256 Academic & Athletic Excellence), Pascale Setbon (Founder, The Language and Laughter Studio) and myself, as the Education attaché of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy. Continue reading “ “Parlez-vous français?” on Independent Sources / CUNY TV”