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Reading Room
FAQ—Frequently Asked Questions
- Is language immersion a new concept?
- How can I help my child if I don’t speak Spanish?
- Do students or parents need a background in Spanish?
- How will my child learn other necessary subject matter?
- “Who would ever send their kids to an immersion school?”
- When should children learn a second language?
- How do children learn English?
- Did you know?
- What else is there for me to read about immersion education?
Immersion has been used in Canada since 1965 and has been gaining in popularity in the US over the past few decades as an effective method of language learning. The immersion concept has been around for thousands of years; it is the way all of us learn our native language. In immersion, language learning is done in such a natural way that students are comfortable with instruction. Children are excellent mimics. They are eager, curious, and less selfconscious than adults in experimenting with and acquiring new languages.
Is language immersion a new concept?
Parents can support their child in these ways:
How can I help my child if I don’t speak Spanish?
- Make a long-term commitment to immersion.
- Develop an understanding of immersion education.
- Provide experiences outside of school to develop English
- Encourage the use of Spanish outside of school.
- Be sure your child attends school every day.
- Communicate your belief in the value of learning a second language.
- Read to your child daily in English. Once students begin reading on their own, either in Spanish or in English, parents need to establish a consistent reading routine.
No, the Lakes International program is designed for children of families
who do not speak Spanish. Teachers will consider this fact when they communicate
with parents and assign homework. Some will be native speakers, though this is not a requirement. Teachers must have a Minnesota elementary teaching license and have native or near-native Spanish fluency. In addition to the licensed teachers, there may be native Spanish-speaking assistants in the classroom. 
Do students or parents need a background in Spanish?
LILA will use the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program. This internatioanlly-recognized curriculum model will not only provide a solid framework for inquiry into standard elementary subject matter, but will also entail the development of explicit attitudes and the expectation of socially responsible behavior. See www.ibo.org for more information.
How will my child learn other necessary subject matter?
Currently, well over 4,000 students attend immersion programs
in Minnesota. More programs are in the works. Across the US, there are nearly
400 schools offering immersion programs. Worldwide, millions of children learn
in two languages.
“Who would ever send their kids to an immersion school?”
Highly publicized brain research reported in Time and Newsweek in the late ‘90s states that it’s never too early. A 2001 Congressional Report concurs: “Recent research shows that the optimum human learning time for all languages is between birth and age 10. The Committee is especially concerned that the nation's educational system is not meeting a critical need for speakers of foreign languages to fill sensitive Federal agency jobs, and is not preparing enough students to face an internationally competitive business environment.”
When should children learn a second language?
Most children will arrive with a firm grasp of English, since it
is the language of the community and usually, of the home. In kindergarten,
nearly all instruction is in Spanish. Students may use English, but their teacher
will respond in Spanish. As students become
more accustomed to hearing and understanding the second language, they will
be encouraged to express themselves in Spanish. In grade 3, formal instruction
in English language arts begins. Spanish will continue to be used as the main
language of instruction through
grade 6.
How do children learn English?
Research shows second language
immersion gives children the opportunity to:
Did you know?
- Acquire the second language.
- Have a greater capacity for listening.
- Learn higher level thinking skills.
- Demonstrate a better understanding of English.
- Develop better communications skills.
- Think more analytically and creatively.
- Express enthusiasm and have an aptitude for problem solving.
- Have a greater awareness of self and others.
- Gain insights into other cultures.
- Have the ability to adjust more easily to the new and unexpected.
- Be better prepared for the global community.