UCI’s Multiple Subject Teacher Credential Program has a larger group of bilingual students this year. Various languages were represented at the annual orientation meeting before the start of fall quarter. The majority of our bilingual candidates are Spanish speakers, but other bilingual candidates spoke Korean, Mandarin or Vietnamese. All of the students in attendance were interested in pursuing their Bilingual Authorization.
Eight bilingual (Spanish) candidates have been placed at Viejo Elementary School in Mission Viejo. Viejo Elementary has four UCI bilingual alumni working in their two-way language immersion (Spanish) program. One of our UCI bilingual alumni is now a UCI master teacher this year. In addition, one bilingual (Mandarin) candidate has been placed at Bergeson Elementary School’s Mandarin immersion program in Laguna Niguel. This will be the second bilingual candidate placed at Bergeson Elementary. The school’s first bilingual (Mandarin) candidate graduated last year and is working as a bilingual teacher at College Park Elementary School’s Mandarin Immersion Talent and Gifted Program. Both schools, Viejo and Bergeson, will have bilingual teacher positions available next year.
Bilingual candidates were able to meet their master teachers and other bilingual alumni at the orientation meeting. Bilingual alumni shared many of their personal experiences interviewing for a teaching position, teaching in a dual immersion school and secrets of how to secure a position after graduation. Master teachers had the opportunity to meet their new student teachers and discuss their expectations and grade level routines in their classroom before the start of their new school year.
It will be a great year for this new bilingual cohort. They are now members of a very strong bilingual community which includes experienced bilingual master teachers and mentors, bilingual leaders, and a fast growing group of bilingual alumni working at various dual immersion schools in the local area.