ENMU Recognizing Producers of Dual-Language Documentary

Date: 11/11/2003
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253

PORTALES--The public is invited to the Portales-area premier of the "Planting Seeds of Success Through Language" documentary at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12, in the University Theatre at Eastern New Mexico University.

The half-hour documentary, produced by KENW-TV's Orlando Ortega, and ENMU
professor of bilingual education Dr. Julia Rosa López-Emslie, highlights a
Spanish/English Two-Way, Dual-Language Immersion Program that has been in
place at Dolores Gonzales Elementary School in Albuquerque for eight years.
The program begins with kindergarten and continues through the fifth grade.

Students with English as their first language, students with Spanish as
their first language, and heritage language learners (non-Spanish speaking
Hispanics) are grouped together in the classroom. During half of the day,
the students are immersed in English-only instruction and during the other
half, they are immersed in Spanish-only instruction.

Following introductions by Dr. Steven Russell, dean of the College of
Education and Technology at ENMU, ENMU president Steven Gamble will welcome
guests. The documentary will then be screened, followed by comments from
David Briseño, director of Federal Programs at La Casita. Students in the
dual-language program at Las Casita will also be in attendance.

Duane Ryan, director of Broadcasting at KENW, will then make comments,
followed by Dr. López-Emslie. A reception will follow in the lobby.