Dual Language Immersion Program

In both programs:

• Teachers embed reading and writing skills across content areas and integrate the whole VBCPS curriculum.
• Lessons in elective classes such as art, music and physical education are in English.

Students completing an elementary dual language immersion program may continue their study of Spanish in middle school. In grades six through eight, students receive social studies instruction in the target language. They also refine their knowledge of the target language by taking an immersion Spanish world language course for high school credit. Beginning as sixth graders with a level one world language course, students can complete three years of high school world language credits by the end of eighth grade. This prepares them for advanced world language study during high school where they may take levels IV, V, AP Language and AP Literature.

Students completing the elementary and middle school world language immersion program with a strong record (3.0 GPA and no disciplinary infractions) are guaranteed acceptance into the Global Studies and World Languages Academy at Tallwood High School.

The advantages of language learning, particularly in early childhood, are supported by decades of research. The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) has compiled studies that show numerous correlations between language learning and cognitive benefits, increases in academic achievement, and development of cross-cultural understanding.

Language learning provides cognitive benefits to students, including:

• Increases in higher-order critical thinking and problem solving
• Higher levels of cognitive processing, including spatial reasoning and more advanced verbal processing
• Decreases in age-related cognitive losses such as memory loss
• Increased social skills and the ability to engage in more creative problem solving
• Increased brain function related to attention and inhibition.

Language learning supports academic achievement. Language learners:

• Do as well or better than their peers in English-only programs in assessments of academic achievement
• Gain cross-cultural skills and global perspectives
• Show gains in other subjects such as math and English reading
• Do better on college entrance exams
• Gain transferrable skills such as higher levels of print awareness, metalinguistic understanding, and more sophisticated analytical skills.

Language learning leads to cross-cultural understanding

• Ability to collaborate and communicate with people from diverse backgrounds
• Confidence to engage in global communities and take part in global economy/international workforce that is becoming increasingly culturally diverse

Research on World Language Immersion Education

• Why Immersion?
• Top Ten Answers for Parents about Immersion Education
• Why Learn Languages: Early Childhood & Elementary
• ACTFL: What the Research Shows
• TED Talk: The Benefits of a Bilingual Brain
• The Cognitive Benefits of Being Bilingual

Students who live in the established attendance zone of a school hosting an elementary immersion program are eligible to apply as rising kindergarteners (for two-way DLI) or first graders (for one-way DLI). As language learning is sequential, students will not be admitted after the first semester of second grade except in special circumstances. Heritage speakers of the target language or students transferring from other immersion programs may apply for admission at any time.