Many immersion parents have concerns that the summer slide means their immersion student will be linguistically behind in the fall. Not to worry! Stephanie Irizarry tackles the three most common questions related to the summer slide for immersion students, and offers helpful suggestions for building a love of language outside of school.
ESS stands for English Specific Skills. Knowing what these skills are and how and when to introduce them in the classroom will impact everything from immersion program design to the instructional practice you’ll see in classrooms.
Do I know if learning a second language will propel them toward being a doctor or a lawyer or work in the mission field? No. But I do know this: I have given my children the gift of a second language. Someday they will use it. If asked “would I do it all over again?” THAT I can answer. Yes. 100x over, yes.
“We often look at immersion and see the outside, which is still amazing. But what I’m beginning to notice is that there’s an inside change that happens with these kids too. They begin to see the world differently.”
As I have looked at character traits that build the kind of end result I want to see in my kids, a few have stood out that specifically speak to my choice to put my kids in a Spanish immersion program. One that sticks out to me is TENACITY.
Our excited second grade immersion students enjoyed a SKYPE session with their new friends from Spain, Miss Teresa’s sisters. While receiving a SKYPE tour of the neighborhoods and experiencing a taste of the home designs, the students were amazed at the beauty of the buildings and the artistic expressions.
Gina Vander Zwaag is a 6th grade student in Spanish immersion at Zeeland Christian School. It’s a special treat to welcome her to our blog, as she shares about her immersion experience, and how things are going in middle school.
Regardless of how many choices crowd your inbox or mailbox, it can be difficult to make a decision, especially if you’re considering a dual language immersion program for your child.
We’re here to give parents a leg up.
“Immersion education is another opportunity to help my kids become productive citizens not just of the USA, but also of a spiritual kingdom that looks at the world for what we can give, not just what we can get, for what we can share, not just what we can protect.”
FonoCultura is an early Spanish reader series that uses author Olga Díaz’s personal stories to bring together authentic language and cultural elements for the benefit of student learning. Here’s what what mom had to say about what the series means to her son.
