DeMille Elementary: Vietnamese class anything but run of the mill

Thuy Phan/Nguoi Viet

MIDWAY CITY, Calif. — When you first enter Huong Dang’s kindergarten class at DeMille Elementary and see a room full of exuberant 5- and 6-year-olds singing and learning their numbers, you probably would not think twice about it.

But then you look around and notice the alphabet hanging on the walls have accent marks on them, and instead of 26 letters, there are 29, and “f”, “j” and “w” are nowhere to be found.

Then you take a listen to what the children are repeating and realize they aren’t singing or counting in English; instead they are speaking Vietnamese.

“I can count to 12!” said 6-year-old Vincent, who amended that statement with, “I mean muoi hai.”

 Kindergarten teacher Huong Dang teaches her students in Vietnamese at Demille Elementary in Midway City, Calif. (Photo: Thuy Phan/Nguoi Viet)

That’s Vietnamese for “12” and Vincent is one of 42 students who are enrolled in the state’s first dual immersion Vietnamese-English language class at DeMille Elementary school, 5400 Van Buren St.

“The kindergartners are learning the same things they would learn in any other kindergarten,” said Trish Montgomery, public information officer for the Westminster School District. “They’re learning their numbers, their colors, shapes and various things. They’re just learning it in two languages. These kids are pioneers.”

The program, which is in its first month, is groundbreaking for the district. The district is only one of four across the U.S. to have such a program; the others are in Texas, Oregon and Washington.

The Vietnamese alphabet is posted around the room to help the students learn. (Photo: Thuy Phan/Nguoi Viet)

“I was really excited when I realized I would be teaching this class,” said Huong Dang, a 10-year-veteran of the Westminster School District. “I prepared by speaking to colleagues and professors who helped guide me. There are a lot of details to teach them, like their names, where to sit, their schedules and the rules. They only just started kindergarten so they are not only learning a new language but how to behave and be a student.”

Students are only one month into the dual-immersion program, and teacher Huong Dang says she hopes they will pick up more in the coming months. Photo: Thuy Phan/Nguoi Viet)

DeMille was chosen because of its proximity to Little Saigon, home to the nation’s largest concentration of Vietnamese Americans. Of the 42 students enrolled, a third are native English speakers, while a third are native Vietnamese speakers and the rest use both languages.

Parent Lam Duong, of Westminster, said she was thrilled to learn about the class and enrolled her daughter, Tiana.

“When I heard about the program opening up, I was really excited and I wanted in,” Duong said. “I wanted her to learn Vietnamese or else she’d forget. I don’t speak much English, so it will help us communicate.”

Students are split into two groups, “ducks” and “frogs”. During the day they will switch between Mrs. Pelton’s English class and Mrs. Dang’s Vietnamese class. Photo: Thuy Phan/Nguoi Viet)

With the large enrollment, the class is split into two groups, affectionately named “ducks” and “frogs.” Dang is in charge of the Vietnamese lessons while Mrs. Pelton teaches in English. Depending on the day, “ducks” will start their day with Pelton learning in English first, while the “frogs” start with Dang in Vietnamese.

Before lunch, the two groups will switch. That ensures they are learning in both English and Vietnamese.

So far, the students have learned shapes, colors and numbers but Dang said it is only the beginning.

Everything in the classroom is labeled in Vietnamese to help facilitate teaching the language. (Photo: Thuy Phan/Nguoi Viet)

“We have certain goals and milestones they need to reach,” she said. “It’s great to see them be able to count in Vietnamese, especially those who aren’t of Vietnamese origin. We still have nine months left so I am optimistic they will make a lot of progress.”

Luis Amezzua, 30, who speaks Spanish and English with his daughter at home, enrolled her in the program because his wife insisted it would be beneficial for their child.

“At first I was hesitant and not sure it was a good idea,” Amezzua said. “But my wife wanted to give her every opportunity available and thought it couldn’t hurt for her to learn a new language. Now she knows three languages and comes home really excited and tries to teach us too.”

Of the 42 students enrolled, a third are native English speakers, while a third are native Vietnamese speakers and the rest use both languages. (Photo: Thuy Phan/Nguoi Viet)

While the program is still in its infancy, the school district is prepared to expand it if the demand from the community warrants it.

“This program is starting in kindergarten this year,” Montgomery said. “Next year there will kindergarten and first grade. The year after that, it’ll be kindergarten, first grade and second grade until we are full up until sixth grade. If there is enough demand, we would be happy to open the program in other schools as well. Kids are like sponges and they’re absorbing things so quickly. We couldn’t be happier.”

For Dang, who said she recognizes the responsibility of being the first in this pilot program, said she can’t help but share in her students’ excitement.

A young student raises his hand to be called on. (Photo: Thuy Phan/Nguoi Viet)

“Their energy is contagious,” Dang said. “They’re only five or six, so they are still so innocent and excited. It’s wonderful when Vietnamese students start speaking more Vietnamese and then seeing the non-Vietnamese students speaking it back to me. It’s a wonderful thing to witness.”

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