Dual Immersion Program at East Elementary

3/18/2015

East Elementary recently began a dual immersion program by teaching the curriculum in Spanish
and Englishalternating days and classes. The teacher that leads this program is named Marta
Fernandez and a student of Southern Utah University, Matthew Scott, is there to help. Matthew
decided to help out in this program because he values his fluency in Spanish and can see the
great benefit that the bilingual kids will have in their futures. Plus, if were being honest who
doesnt like working with first graders? What could be more fun than that?
Upon returning home from living in Panama for two years, Matthew returned to his studies and
began his EDGE project in October of 2014. He decided to use this opportunity to give back to
the community and help out at East Elementary. We asked him why and this was his response,
When I was in elementary school, a high school student came and helped me read. I remember I
was the last one to graduate from reading lists to books, so I had felt really embarrassed. But
then this older kid came to help me and suddenly reading was fun. I learned how to read because
someone reached their hand out to help me. So when considering my EDGE project, I knew that
I wanted to do something like that. The Dual Immersion Program was the perfect opportunity.
Whether grading papers, reading short stories, leading groups, or doing art projectsMatthew
has enjoyed helping Sra. Fernandez teach her first grade class. The kids are able to learn Spanish
with ease at such a young age because the brain is more flexible in its learning. This student is
making a difference in the lives of many through a few hours of simple service. The EDGE
project designed by Southern Utah University helps students learn about how to plan a project,
carry it out, and reflect back on what they have done. It gives the student the added experience
necessary to take their education to a real world level. Through networking, coordinating, and
following through, that is exactly what Matthew Scott has done through the EDGE program.
Both the community and the student have benefitted from this wonderful experience that
Southern Utah University has as part of their required curriculum. All students at Southern Utah
University will have an advantage in their futures because of the skills and talents learned with
their EDGE projects.
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Matthew Scott
435 830 3130
351 W University Blvd, Cedar City, UT, 84720
hercules@q.com