A Dual Language Immersion Program consists of a curriculum taught in two languages, with the goal of students being bilingual and biliterate, while maintaining high academic achievement in all subjects. In addition to learning two languages, students gain an appreciation for another culture, which is a vital skill in our increasingly diverse world.

Our program will focus on English and Spanish Languages, where 50% of the day is taught in Spanish and the other 50% is in English–a 50/50 model.

While conversational Spanish is part of being biliterate, the DLI program would also strengthen academic language, reading, and writing in both languages. Not only that, by learning a second language and studying the culture and traditions of the language's native speakers, students develop a broader perspective and become more culturally aware. Multiculturalism is a valuable skill in our increasingly diverse world and can help students develop empathy and understanding for people from different backgrounds.

The DLI program functions as an asset-based model that celebrates your child’s (Spanish) home language and empowers them to learn another language simultaneously.

According to studies on children's brain development, children who learn multiple languages at a young age are more likely to grasp unfamiliar languages since their brains are still developing and maturing. Moreover, trained teachers with bilingual certification use strategies such as visual cues, TPR (total physical response), and translanguaging skills (making connections between languages) to help young minds speak, read, and write each language accordingly.

Build a stronger academic language in Spanish and leverage that to learn a new target language.

The home language that students come to school with will create a strong foundation for retaining a new language. These skills that students have from their home will be used as a bridge to developing a new language.

One of the most significant ways you can support your child's growth in the classroom is to read to your child every night. Having conversations with your child will build their vocabulary and develop their language skills. Doing both of these activities in your home language will create a strong foundation for gaining a second language.

Fluency in both languages is different with every student. Teachers will hold parent-teacher conferences twice during the school year to discuss your child's progression in the program. However, research shows that students can become fluent in about 4 to 5 years.

Speak to your child in the language you feel most comfortable in and read in that language. Research from the National Literacy Panel and the Center for Research, Education, Diversity and Excellence suggest that students learn their second language best when they have strong literacy skills in their native language. That means that by helping them with their Spanish, you are indeed helping them with their English and vice versa!