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Community-Based Heritage Language Schools (CBHL)
Languages:
Tamil
Independent non-profit school
TALENT - Tamil Language Education and Training Inc
Ellicott City, Maryland 21043
Tamil for Heritage Learners Institute Background
Our Tamil school never rejects anyone who wants to enroll at any age and at any skill level. We evaluate their Tamil language skill based on a simple test in order to place them at the appropriate level in the school. Those children at the entry-level (age 4-5) are handled by the teachers very carefully to understand their developmental and behavioral differences and then tailor their teaching methods to include all the children. When students are enrolled at a higher age, they are first placed at a slightly lower level classroom to make them feel comfortable and then move them upwards based on their proven skills. Thus our levels and teachers are flexible enough to be inclusive for children of different abilities from diverse economic and cultural backgrounds.
We also provide the opportunity to attain excellence by competing for high levels of proficiency in Tamil. We motivate our students to earn the biliteracy seal for Tamil in their high school diplomas. We provide special coaching for children who want to achieve this target when they graduate from our school.
- Access
- Excellence
Improve Access for all learners in more languages
Percentage of types Students
Heritage Language Learners 90%
Multilingual Learners %
Learners who speak a language that is linguistically related to the target language 10%
Learners who speak a language that is culturally (but not linguistically) related to the target language %
Types of language learners are enrolled
- People of Color
- Heritage language learners (second generation or more)
- Recent immigrants
- Special education students
Programs available in your school
- Continuous program from grades Pre-K to 12 (novice to advanced)
How do the programs identified above meet the needs of learners of different ages in your school
The lesson plans identified for different age groups seem to work well mostly because they overlap a little with successive levels and hence provide continuity.
Main reasons students attend your school
- To connect with their heritage in a meaningful way
- To gain literacy in the language, in addition to oral communication skills
- To communicate with relatives in the home country
- To learn and use a language that is not offered in high school
- To earn credits for high school or university studies in the U.S.
Do you offer different pathways of study and engagement to align with the interests and goals of the learners in your school?
No
What are the main sources of financial support for your school
- Tuition
Does your school offer financial assistance to students?
No
How important is the impact of the financial assistance on student enrollment at your school
1
Which of these common competing commitments faced by the learners most negatively impact student enrollment and/or attendance
Name
After-school activities in the mainstream schoo
Homework and other academic pursuits
Extra-curricular activities (sports, music, hobbies)
Religious obligations
Family obligations
Work
Field name
Attendance
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Enrollment
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
How has your school been able to accommodate your students’ competing commitments so that they can attend your school?
We have our school on Friday evening when the competing commitments are generally not scheduled.
How has your school been able to accommodate your students’ competing commitments so that they can attend your school?
We have our school on Friday evening when the competing commitments are generally not scheduled.
Does your school provide information to parents and other stakeholders about essential school information?
No
Does your school communicate with the community at large about events and other information?
No
List the percentage of students by age group
PreK-K students %
Kindergarten students 5 %
Elementary school students 45 %
Middle school students (grades 6-8) 35 %
High school students (grades 9-12) 15 %
Excellence through transparency and accountability
Curriculum and instruction
- Curriculum and instruction that build on the linguistic skills and cultural knowledge that learners bring to the classroom
Outcomes
- Receipt of credit for language proficiency, officially included in the students’ academic record, if possible
Professional Development
- Provision of ongoing professional development for educators and other personnel
Vision, Strategic Planning, and Priorities
- Well-defined and publicized rules and regulations of school operation that are specified and followed by the school board and the faculty, in meetings and in planning
Transparency, Accountability, and Outreach
- Strategic collaborations with organizations and initiatives outside of the language education community (e.g., business, government, and NGOs) in order to support and advance the aims of the CBHLS
Institution Information
Year School was Established
2002
Languages taught at your school
Tamil
Weekday Evening Classes
Number of weeks per year: 40
Number of hours per week: 1
Average Number of Students
275
Average Number of Teachers
40