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Friday, August 31, 2012

Pierluisi Participates in Inauguration of Language Immersion Program at School in Guayama

Guayama, Puerto Rico—Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi participated today at the inauguration of the Language Immersion Program at Luis A. Rivera Intermediate School in Guayama.

“This program will have a great impact in the lives of participating students, their teachers, and the municipality of Guayama. I hope this model will be adopted by other schools in Puerto Rico, since it will provide our children with the tools they need to compete—and win—in the globalized economy. I want to thank everyone who made this program possible. You can count on my support,” said Pierluisi.

The Language Immersion Program arose out of a proposal made by the Municipality of
Guayama and the school’s principal, Jaime Torres, to the Puerto Rico Department of Education. It will begin with a limited pilot program consisting of 30 7th graders. The curriculum for those students will be offered entirely in English, with the exception of Spanish class.

In addition, all school personnel, including teachers and administrators, will take courses in English, which will be offered as a result of a partnership with Interamerican University of Guayama.

As the program moves forward, more students will be able to participate and more languages will be added to the curriculum.

The program will include an educational trip for the students to New York and Washington D.C., where they can be completely immersed in the English language.

“I hope to receive you at my office in Washington during your immersion trip. I know it will be a tremendous experience, and I urge you to take full advantage of it,” said the Resident Commissioner.

During the inauguration ceremony, Pierluisi was accompanied by the Mayor of Guayama, Glorimari Jaime Rodríguez; Representative Jorge “Borgie” Ramos; Principal Jaime Torres Colón; and the Regional Director of the Puerto Rico Department of Education, Evelyn Díaz.