Chinese Immersion

Students have the unique opportunity to become highly proficient in Chinese or Spanish by participating in an elementary language immersion program. The immersion program begins in kindergarten and participating families are asked to make a long-term, multi-year commitment to immersion education. At the middle and high school levels, students continue in the study of their target language and may have the opportunity to begin the study of an additional world language.

In grades K-5, Elementary Immersion students spend 50% of their instructional day learning in their immersion language.  They learn math, science, and language arts in the immersion language from one teacher and learn social studies and English language arts from another.  They acquire a broad base of content area knowledge and language across the elementary program.  This provides them with a strong foundation in language and content as they move into the middle grades.

In grades 6-8, Middle School Immersion Continuation students deepen their immersion language skills and cultural competencies.  Each year, they take an advanced-level immersion language course designed to develop greater precision in the immersion and prepare them for their high school immersion language courses.  They also take their social studies class each year in the immersion language, which provides them with rich opportunities to engage in cross-cultural discussions.  Approximately 30% of a student’s day is spent learning in the immersion language.

High School Immersion Continuation programs provide a variety of options for students to continue to strengthen their language proficiency while applying their learning in real-world academic and career contexts.  In grade 9, High School Immersion Continuation students have the opportunity to take the AP Language and Culture course in their immersion language if they are ready to do so.  Successful completion of AP allows students to continue into the Bridge Program.  Students are well-positioned to earn the Delaware Certificate of Multiliteracy in their ninth grade year.

In grades 10-12, immersion continuation students are able to participate in Bridge Program opportunities.  In Delaware, a Bridge Program is any course offering that provides students with opportunities to extend their immersion language and content knowledge into college and work environments.  Delaware Bridge Programs may include dual-credit/dual-enrollment courses with the University of Delaware or Delaware State University or immersion-specific career pathways.