Report on French‐English Programs in New York City’s

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Report on French‐English Programs in New York City’s Public Schools Author: Fabrice JAUMONT Education Attaché Embassy of France 972 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10075 October 2009

FRENCH‐ENGLISH PROGRAMS IN NEW YORK CITY’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS

‐ 2009‐2010 ‐

With globalization a fact, and cultural diversity an ever‐increasing reality, New York’s public schools have opened themselves up to the learning of foreign languages but also to the teaching of traditional core content areas in a language other than English. According to the New York Department of Education, students who will speak a second language will be better prepared to succeed in a multicultural world and will be able to preserve their cultural heritage. Since 2005, new programs in the French language have emerged en force in the public schools. The impetus that created the rapid success of these programs is a result of the synergy between multiple partners—French, Francophone, and Francophile. These

actors have offered an alternative to parents who seek not only to offer an economically feasible solution for a dual English‐French education, but also a more diverse choice in their children’s education. The French Government, through the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, American foundations such as FACE (French‐American Cultural Exchange), the Florence Gould Foundation, the Grand Marnier Foundation and the Alfred & Jane Ross Foundation, as well as parent associations such as Education Française à New York (EFNY) and the Friends of New York French‐American Bilingual and Multicultural Education are amongst those organizations that have grasped the importance of dual language education and have consolidated their efforts to work with the city’s public schools.

The French Embassy, for instance, provides the text books and offers trainings and workshops for the professors; additionally, the Embassy contributes logistical and financial aid to the schools. The parent association EFNY serves as both the go‐between between the schools, the parents and various institutions, and the spokesperson for the Francophone families in New York. EFNY’s numerous initiatives facilitated the relationship between the Department of Education and the Francophone families. The Alfred & Jane Ross Foundation has brought its financial support and expertise in the development of innovative programming and pedagogy. Together, these partners, the schools and the Department of Education have offered New York’s 300,000‐strong French‐speaking community (representing more than 55 different nationalities) access to much needed French‐language curricula that will help their children maintain strong ties to their heritage while becoming true global citizens.

Almost 1,100 students are enrolled in one of these programs in New York. Over 1,500 students are expected for the 2010‐2011 school year.

As a result, almost 1,100 students are enrolled in one of these programs taught in French in New York. Over 1,500 students are expected for the 2010‐2011 school year. The curriculum and pedagogy of each program varies from school to school: dual‐language classes, after‐school classes, charter school, heritage classes and preparations for the Advanced Placement exam, as well as the GED program in French. A – Twenty dual‐language classes – The students are between 5 and 10 years old. In September 2009, six New York public schools opened their doors to bilingual classes (French‐ English). The schools are PS125 (Harlem), PS58 (Caroll Gardens ‐ Brooklyn), PS73 (Bronx), CIS22 (Bronx),

PS84 (Upper West Side), and PS151 in Woodside (Queens). In the Fall of 2009, these schools opened a total of 20 classes, serving more than 500 students. In just two year’s time the programs increased enrolment nine‐ fold! Other French dual‐language programs are in the works in other parts of the city. For information and donations, visit http://facecouncil.org/dlp These immersion classes in French and English are geared toward Francophones, Anglophones

and bilingual students, as well as students who speak little or no English. Each individual school assures its own individual enrolment. These classes join more than 70 other dual language programs (Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Haitian Creole and Korean) financed by the city of New York. B – Eight after‐school French programs – The students are between 5 and 13 years old. The parents of the students of EFNY (Education Française à New York) propose after‐school and extra‐curricular French programs in multiple public schools. Following the initiative of a small group of Francophone and Francophile parents dedicated to the French language and Francophone cultures, the EFNY became an official entity in 2005. EFNY’s goal is to share the French language with their children and to offer financially feasible options of educating their children in French. The after‐school classes take place in the public schools under the supervision of volunteers

During the 2009‐2010 year, these schools opened a total of 20 classes, serving more than 500 students. In other words, in just two years’ time the programs increased enrolment nine‐fold!

taking part in the FLAM committee. These programs benefit from funding from the French government (FLAM, Français Langue Maternelle), which the EFNY obtained of its own accord. The public schools contribute the classroom spaces to EFNY. These factors (the organization of EFNY parents and volunteers, free classroom space, FLAM funds) allow the after‐school program to keep their operational costs relatively low. There exist seven locations for the after‐school programs: PS234 (Tribeca), PS41 (Greenwich Village), PS363 (East Village), PS58 (Carroll Gardens), PS10 (Park Slope), PS59 (Midtown East), PS 84 (Upper West Side) and PS 183 (Upper East Side). This program serves about 250 students, who are for the most part French. A working committee composed of parents and specialists is working actively to create a charter school in which a student would be able to pursue his or her education entirely in French. For information and donations, visit http://www.efny.net C ‐ Six French Heritage Language Programs– The students are between 5 and 18 years old. The French Heritage Language Program (FHLP) is piloted by the French Embassy in partnership with the Alfred & Jane Ross Foundation. The generous support of several other foundations as well as individuals throughout New York also enables the FHLP to offer French classes to children of Francophone families, who are recently immigrated to the United States. FHLP was created to promote and enrich heritage language learning of French and to encourage the learning of French and Francophone cultures by students of Francophone origin in the New York public schools. The primary objective is to promote bilingualism by helping students maintain and develop solid competency in French in order to perpetuate the connections with their countries of origin, while improving their chances of success and integration into American culture and society. The goal is to develop and affirm the linguistic, professional and personal development of each student so as to affirm the student’s identity and encourage the confidence of the immigrant students as they transition into their new environment.

In New York, 150 students currently participate in this program in six locations: Brooklyn International HS, Bronx International HS, International HS at Prospect Heights (Brooklyn), International HS at Lafayette (Brooklyn), International Community HS (Bronx) and PS125 The Ralphe Bunche Primary School. An intensive summer camp, offered in July, is also associated with the program. Fun pedagogical activities enable the students to improve their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Field trips to art museums, Francophone institutions, guest speakers, films, dance and theater workshops, as well as a one‐week trip to Québec, almost fully financed by philanthropists, also renders this program exceptional.

The French Heritage Language Program also has as its objective to create pedagogical materials specially adapted to the teaching of French as a heritage language, implemented in the New York classrooms, and also available online for programs throughout the country to adapt to their own needs. For information and donations, visit http://facecouncil.org/fhlp D – A new charter school will open in September 2010: The New York French‐American Charter School – NYFACS Open to everyone, free, open to the world, bilingual, biliterate, teaching from multiple points of view, focused on the individual, the New York French American Charter School (NYFACS) will incorporate both the American and French approaches toward learning by taking the best from each and creating an educational system that is better than its parts. From the French system NYFACS will take: rigor, structure, inductive reasoning approach to teaching, a deeper approach to topics studied, In‐depth study of grammar and analysis of language, emphasis on method, organization, and neatness. From the American system NYFACS will take: flexibility, constructivist approach to student‐oriented learning, broader approach to topics studied, emphasis on individual thought and creativity, attention to individual learning styles as well as learning disabilities, large opportunity for participation in student affairs and activities. Teachers will teach in their native language and thus teach their culture. History class will become a true vehicle in teaching a world view. Students will study the history of their countries with a native viewpoint, thus not only reinforcing their own identity but also inviting all students to analyze and compare points of view. NYFACS will not only be a combination of these two systems, it will be a living, breathing, multicultural environment in which students grow up free from the prejudices that often bind people who have been raised in an insular environment with only one world view and approach to education. For information and donations, visit http://www.nyfacschool.org. E ‐ Two GED programs in French – The students are between 17 and 21 years old. The GED (General Educational Development) is an exam enabling students who do not have a high school diploma or a French Baccalauréat to validate their studies so as to earn an equivalency of these degrees. The preparation for this exam may be prepared at two centers: the Linden Learning Center in Brooklyn and the Jamaica Learning Center in Queens. Almost 250 students enroll in the GED French language preparation courses each year.

F – An increased need for teachers of French. The need for French teachers has already increased and will continue to do so as new programs open up. In the case of Francophone teachers wanting to teach in these programs, the New York certification and a B.A. diploma of at least four years is often required. For teachers certified outside of the state of New York, it is possible to obtain an equivalency through a strict evaluation administered on a case by case basis by the Department of Education. For more information, visit http://schools.nyc.gov/TeachNYC/requirements/nystate G – Principals Program Starting in 2010 the French Embassy will initiate a program that will provide school principals involved in public schools that offer curriculum taught in French to visit France on an educational trip that will help them develop connections with schools and principals in France.

Special recognition: on October 20th 2009, French Ambassador Pierre Vimont conferred the insignia of chevalier of the Order of Academic Palms upon four principals: Giselle Gault McGee, Jean Veyr'ne Mirvil, Robin Sundick and Shimon Waronker. These recipients were honored for their tireless participation in the development of French‐English dual language programs in their respective schools—PS 58 in Brooklyn, PS 73 in the Bronx, PS 84 in Manhattan and CIS 22 in the

Bronx. Claudette Lustin, former principal of PS 125 in Harlem also received the title of chevalier in the order of Academic Palms. PS 125 was one of the three forerunners with PS58 and CIS 22 to launch a French‐English dual‐language program in 2007. H – Teacher Development and Teacher Exchange Program Thanks to the French Ministry of Education’s Jules Verne program teachers in these schools will be able to exchange their position with teachers in France, and teach in France during one academic year on the basis of reciprocity. Teachers in the dual‐language programs receive teacher development opportunities throughout the year thanks to a series of workshops proposed by the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) in partnership with the French Embassy. Furthermore, these teachers can apply to a scholarship program which sends teachers to France for a three‐week training program in July. In partnership with Teachers College (IUFM) in Montpellier, France, teacher trainees from France will spend several weeks in each dual‐language program in order to gain valuable experience and share their expertise with the local schools. In return IUFM Montpellier will host NYC teachers sent to France for training and serve as a liaison with schools in the south of France with a view to establishing school pairing and exchanges.

I – French Goes Public, a Franco‐American fundraising campaign to support these programs. Since 2007, at the initiative of Kareen Rispal, Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy in New York, the campaign to raise funds for French Goes Public was launched to support the various French language teaching programs in New York. In France, the Senate, the Ministère de l’Education nationale and the Ministère des Affaires étrangères et européennes quickly contributed their support. The donations of foundations and individual are allowing us to match the contributions coming from France. The website Network for Good enables individuals to safely and efficiently make their donation online. These donations, contributed to the non‐profit French American Cultural Exchange Council (FACE), are tax‐deductible. These donations are used to purchase textbooks and to fund teacher training and workshops. All cheques can be made payable to FACE Council, 972 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10075. J – NewYorkinFrench.net: a new platform for everything French in New York

This "New York in French" platform is a free, apolitical, non‐commercial, community‐oriented blog open to anyone interested in French in New York City and its extended surroundings.

This website offers many free, innovative, spam‐free, collaborative and news‐sharing tools which let members exchange, inform, contribute and debate about questions and interests related to enjoying, promoting and discovering the French language and those who speak it.

Above all, New York in French allows the Francophone community to rally around hot topics such as the opening of bilingual classes in public schools or the teaching of French in the United States. New York in French is centered around educational matters, learning French, and Francophone culture and francophilie in New York City and beyond.

CONTACT INFORMATION ‐ 2009‐2010

A – DUAL LANGUAGE CLASSES

PS 125 Address Tel + Fax E‐mail

Ralph J. Bunche School – PS125 425 W. 123 Street New York, NY 10027

T: 212 666 6400 F: 212 749 1291

Principal Rafaela Espinal [email protected]

Parent Coordinators

Tammy Traoré‐Jackson Karin Dogny

F: 212 491 4002 [email protected]

Grades K, 1 and 2


Carroll School ‐ PS58 330 Smith Street Brooklyn, NY 11231

T: 718 330 9322 F: 718 596 2969

Principal Giselle GAULT [email protected]

Ast. Principal Jayme PERLMAN [email protected]

Parent Coordinator Catherine Poisson [email protected]

Grades K, 1 and 2


The Lillian Weber School – PS84 32 West 92nd Street New York, NY 10025

T: 212 799 2534 F: 212 501 9071

Principal Robin SUNDICK [email protected]

Parent Coordinators

Susan LONG, Virgil DE VOLDERE, Talcott CAMP

T: 917 582 9694 [email protected]

Grades K, 1 and 2


The Bronx School – PS73 1020 Anderson Avenue Bronx, NY 10452

T: 718 681 6776 F: 718 681 6749

Principal Jean MIRVIL [email protected]

Assistant Evelyn NIVAR [email protected]

Grades K and 1

PS151 Address Tel + Fax E‐mail

Mary D Carter School – PS151 5005 31 Ave Astoria, NY 11101

T: 718 728 2676 F: 718 545 2028

Principal Jason GOLNER [email protected]

Parent Coordinator

Helene MAUBOURGUET [email protected]

Grades K and 1

CIS 22 Address Tel + Fax E‐mail

Jordan L. Mott – CIS22 207 East 167th Street Bronx, NY 10456

T: 718 681 6850 F: 718 681 6895

Principal Linda ROSENBURY [email protected]

Ast. Principal Josh BROOKSTEIN [email protected]

Assistant Elizabeth GONZALEZ [email protected]

Grades 6, 7 and 8

B – AFTER-SCHOOL CLASSES


P.S. 234 Independence School 292 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007

T: 212 233 6034 F: 212 374 1719

Principal Lisa RIPPERGER

Coordinators EFNY

Yasmine KARRENBERG Isabelle LEYO

T: 917 575 3116 [email protected]


P.S. 363 Neighborhood School 121 East 3rd Street New York, NY 10009

T : 212 387 0195 F : 212 387 0198

Principal Judith FOSTER

Coordinator EFNY Céline WARSHAW [email protected]


Carroll School ‐ PS58 330 Smith Street Brooklyn, NY 11231

T: 718 330 9322 F: 718 596 2969

Principal Giselle GAULT

Coordinators EFNY

Philippe HARTMANN Meryem BENCHEIKH

[email protected]

PS10 Address Tel + Fax E‐mail

P.S. 10 Magnet School For Math, Science and Design Technology 511 Seventh Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11215

T:718 965 1190 F: 718 369 1736

Principal Laura SCOTT

Coordinators EFNY

Jean‐Louis FRENCK Stephanie CORNE

[email protected] [email protected]


213 East 63rd street, New York, NY 10065

T: 212 752 2998 F: 212 752 6031

Principal Adele SCHROETER

Coordinator EFNY Florence POUSSIN Khadidja FAJRY

[email protected] [email protected]


P.S. 41 Greenwich Village School 116 West 11 Street New York, NY 10011

T: 212 675 2756 F: 212 924 0910

Principal Kelly SHANNON

Coordinators EFNY

Clara FON SING, Karen DELFAU and Eva OBADIA

[email protected]


P.S. 183 ‐ Robert L. Stevenson 419 East 66 Street New York, NY 10021

T : 212 734 7719 F : 212 861 8314

Principal Mary Anne SACCO

Coordinator EFNY Nelly BERGOUGNOUX [email protected]


The Lillian Weber School – PS84 32 West 92nd Street New York, NY 10025

T: 212 799 2534 F: 212 501 9071

Principale Robin SUNDICK

Coordinator EFNY Elisabeth Ayvazian [email protected]

C – FRENCH HERITAGE LANGUAGE PROGRAM CLASSES IHS @ Lafayette Address Tel + Fax E‐mail

International High School at Lafayette 2630 Benson Ave Brooklyn, NY 11214

T: 718.345.0854 F: 718.342.2352

Principal Michael SOET [email protected]

Coordinator David LASSERRE T: 212 439 1438 [email protected]

Grades 9‐12


Ralph J. Bunche School – PS125 425 W. 123 Street New York, NY 10027

T: 212 666 6400 F: 212 749 1291

Principal Rafaela Espinal [email protected]


Grades K to 5

IHS @ PH Address Tel + Fax E‐mail

The International High School at Prospect Heights 883 Classon Ave, room 428, Brooklyn, NY 11225

T: 718 230 6333 F: 718 230 6322

Principal Alexandra ANORMALIZA [email protected]


Grades 9‐12

BIHS Address Tel + Fax E‐mail

Brooklyn International High School 49 Flatbush Avenue Ext Brooklyn, NY 11201

T : 718 643 9315 F : 718 643 9516

Principal Pamela TARANTO [email protected]


Grades 9‐12

BxIHS Address Tel + Fax E‐mail

Bronx International High School 1110 Boston Road Bronx, NY 10456

T: 718 620 1053 F: 718 620 1056

Principal Joachim VEGA [email protected]


Grades 9‐12

ICHS Address Tel + Fax E‐mail

International Community High School 968 Cauldwell Avenue Bronx, NY 10456

T: 718 893 0249 F: 718 893 0891

Principal Berena CABARCAS [email protected]


Grades 9‐11

D – GED CENTERS

LLC Address Tel + Fax E‐mail

Linden Learning Center 1965 Linden Blvd Brooklyn, NY 11208

T: 718 649 3400 F: 718 672 2923

Principal Clint Jackson

Admission Officers

Elsie Barthelus and Solange LaRoche

[email protected]

Coordinator Gina DEBE FRANCO [email protected]

JLC Address Tel + Fax E‐mail

Jamaica Learning Center 162‐02 Hillside Ave Jamaica, NY 11432

T: 718 739 2100 F: 718 523 1251

Principal Collette Hendrick

Admission Officer Jean Rhuma [email protected]

D – PARTNERS Education Française à New York (EFNY)

Catherine Poisson, President [email protected] EFNY at PS 58 The Carroll School 330 Smith Street Brooklyn, NY 11231 Comité After Schools FLAM : [email protected] Comité Finances : [email protected] Comité Communication : [email protected] Comité Classes Bilingues : [email protected] Comité Assistance Création d'Ecole : [email protected] Site web: http://www.efny.net

New York French American Charter School (NYFACS) Corinne Bal, Founder Katrine Watkins, Principal [email protected] http://www.nyfacschool.org The French Heritage Language Program (FHLP)

David LASSERRE, Program Coordinator French Heritage Language Program T: 212 439 1438 F: 212 439 1455 [email protected]

http://facecouncil.org/fhlp/

The French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) Emmanuel LAINÉ, Vice President of Education T: 646 388 6630 [email protected] http://www.fiaf.org

The Cultural Services of the French Embassy

Fabrice JAUMONT, Education Attaché Embassy of France 972 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10075 [email protected] T: 1 (212) 439‐1436

F: 1 (212) 439‐1455 Special Thanks: We are deeply grateful to our partners and supporters and would like particularly to thank the Alfred & Jane Ross Foundation, the Arthur Ross Foundation, the Florence Gould Foundation, the Grand Marnier Foundation, and the French‐American Cultural Exchange Council. We also gratefully acknowledge the support, through significant grants, of the French Senate, the French Ministry of Education, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the New York City Department of Education and, in particular, the Office of English Learners. Special thanks to book banks such as Adiflor and Biblionef, and Canadian book companies and libraries, as well as Hexagramm, Inc the only New York‐based, official DOE vendor of French books for their collaboration and support. Book donations as well as cash donations from individuals who do their best to assure that the classrooms meet their needs are also greatly appreciated.

Documents

Report on French‐English Programs in New York City’s