Boston preschool creates first bilingual program in Haitian Creole

A Boston elementary school helps immigrant families change into a part of their community through an revolutionary program. She initiated the country’s first bilingual kindergarten program in Haitian Creole.

Toussaint L’Ouverture Bilingual Academy, named after the leader of the Haitian Revolution, not only strives to assist all students communicate with one another and the world, but additionally instills pride in its Haitian students. This is the first-ever solution for preschoolers, and its introduction corresponds to Boston’s large Haitian population and the third largest in the US. Placing him at Mattahunt Elementary School hopes to resolve language barriers when students first enter the classroom.

“Boston Public Schools and many community partners felt that Mattahunt would be the best location, especially in Mattapan, which has a large Haitian population,” explained Priscilla Joseph, teacher and founding father of the Academy at the varsity.

Joseph, herself a Haitian-American, understands that students deserve support and encouragement in their language, culture and history. The majority of the varsity’s students are black, and 97% discover as nonwhite. Of the 512 students, 132 study in the bilingual program. For teachers Academy serves this purpose not only learning, but additionally acceptance.

“I also grew up in a place where it wasn’t okay to say you were Haitian, and there was a lot of discrimination against Haitians,” she said. “So I kind of took my own experiences and brought them into the classroom, knowing what it’s like to be a little bit different or a little bit of an outcast because of your culture.”

The kindergarten also helps students, lots of whom are children of immigrants, as translators for relatives who don’t speak English. This training also extends to teaching staff, as some use Haitian Creole to assist parents participate in their kid’s education. The results of the program also resulted in improved test scores across the varsity.

The curriculum ensures that every one subjects, including the cultural component, include each languages ​​in the teachings. Despite the country’s current political state, Haitian students in Boston are learning to be pleased with their heritage. This mission destroys stereotypes and protects Haitian heritage and culture throughout the diaspora.

“We’re just getting them ready to take over,” Mattahunt director Walter Henderson said. “We’re also trying to make sure they understand that Haiti is a powerful nation.”