San Diego Asian Film Festival 2009

The heated debate over bilingual education usually takes place in courtrooms, at academic conferences and in editorial missives. Often neglected in this discourse is the firsthand experience of students, an oversight that veteran documentarians Marcia Jarmel and Ken Schneider beautifully rectify with their latest effort. Closely following four very different local public-schoolers through an academic year, they draw on subtle nuances of the kids’ stories to illustrate the complex shades and permutations of bilingual schooling.

Two children are placed in immersion programs to retain their native tongues while learning English, and the other two are in the reverse situation. Jason, the “English language learner,” Kelly, the “heritage language learner,” Julian, the “middle class Caucasian,” and Durrell, the “low socioeconomic child,” prove to be more than nodes on a demographic graph. As they chart a course through school life—oral presentations, birthday parties, science fairs, sports, barbecues, and graduations, we see the opportunity their emerging bilingualism offers—and the challenges it presents.

The children’s parents list both familiar and surprising reasons for enrolling their children, but each remains a strong proponent of the programs despite criticism from extended family, friends and a loud chorus of English-only activists. Even while dismissing common barbs, the families must confront unique challenges both humorous and serious.
- Adapted from San Francisco International Film Festival

Producer/director Ken Schneider is scheduled to attend Oct 24 screening.

Co-presented by:
Barnard Elementary School - Chinese Magnet School
Chinese School of San Diego
SDSU Confucius Institute
Chinese Service Center of San Diego