Language Immersion is often the object of myths. The most helpful way to debunk these myths is for you to ask questions. Here is a collection of frequently asked questions. If you don’t find what you are looking for, please add your question in the comments section below. Thank you!
My child doesn’t speak Spanish/Mandarin/French/Arabic/etc. How will s/he understand? Language Immersion teachers are trained as both subject area and language teachers and help make lessons understandable by using hands-on learning, visual supports, interactive activities and by teaching subject areas thematically.
We don’t speak Spanish/Mandarin/French/Arabic/etc at home. Is that a problem? It is not necessary for the new language to be used at home. Language Immersion teaching teams work together to make sure that your child is developing both their first and second languages from the early childhood grades and on.
How long will it take my child to learn Spanish/Mandarin/French/Arabic/etc? Although your child may begin speaking and understanding their new language within a couple of years, research has shown that it can take 4—7 years for students to develop full proficiency. This program requires a long term commitment from parents!
Will learning in two languages affect my child’s test scores? No, with your support at home your child should be able to do as well as peers in English-only classrooms and studies have shown that bilingual children often outperform their monolingual peers in time.
Can my child start the Language Immersion program at any age? It is recommended that children enter the Language Immersion program no later than 1st grade so that they can build language skills in the early grades.