onslow county schools

splash language immersion

Why immersion?

Language is not taught as a stand-

alone subject. Rather, it is acquired

through instruction in the content

areas.

Focus: students master standard

content while becoming proficient in

the target language.

what is a language

immersion program?

Goals: All students will

• develop high levels of

proficiency in two languages

• demonstrate academic

performance at or above grade

level

• demonstrate positive cross-

cultural attitudes and

behaviors

what is a language

immersion program?

what the research says:

Learning in two languages is good for you.

A dual language environment fosters greater cultural sensitivity, increases self

esteem and opens doors.

Young kids are wired to learn language.

Dual language immersion programs help close the achievement gap.

Dual language immersion programs benefit English language learners and

other historically low-performing groups.

Dual language programs benefit native English speakers.

what the research says:

Learning in two languages is good for you.

• Bilinguals can switch between two different language systems. Their brains

are very active they develop more flexible approaches to thinking through

problems (Zelasko and Antunez, 2000).

• Their ability to read and think in two different languages promotes higher

levels of abstract thought, which is critically important in learning (Diaz,

1985).

• Recent research indicates that bilingualism may delay the onset of

Alzheimer’s disease (Dreifus, 2011).

what the research says

Dual language immersion programs help close the achievement gap

Dual language programs are the only programs that assist students to fully

reach the 50th percentile in both their first and second languages in all subjects

and to maintain that level or higher through the end of schooling. (Thomas &

Collier 2002)

ELLs must make 1.5 year’s progress in 1 year’s time every school year to catch

up by 8th grade. (Thomas and Collier 2010)

Second language conversational abilities may be gained quickly, but it takes 5-

7 years for second language learners to gain academic language proficiency.

ELLs should not wait until they are proficient in English to learn academic

content. (Thomas and Collier 2010)

**If you never gain academic language proficiency in your native language, you

have very little chance of gaining it in your second language.

what the research says

Dual language programs benefit native English speakers

Immersion programs for native-English speakers allow them to develop high

second language proficiency without compromising their English language

development or academic achievement. (Genesee 1984)

Students in DLI schools and classrooms outscore non-DL students --- LEP

students, African-American students, White students. (Thomas and Collier

2010)

DLI students’ average reading scores exceed statewide average scores in

each grade. (Thomas and Collier 2010)

After Grade 4, DLI students approach and exceed average statewide scores of

students who are a year ahead of them in school. (Thomas and Collier 2010)

Dual language immersion is an enrichment model that serves

the needs of Native English speakers AND English language

learners. It’s good for all kids!

what the research says:

Learning another language does not hinder learning English

• Developing proficiency and knowledge in one language facilitates learning in

the second language.

• Cummins’ (1987) Interdependence Hypothesis shows the relationship between

one’s first language and other languages learned via the “Dual Iceberg”

illustration.

what the research says:

Young kids are wired to learn language:

Early immersion in a second language capitalizes on young children’s

metalinguistic, cognitive and psycholinguistic capacities to learn language

(Genesee 1984; Lambert 1984)

Research indicates that children who are exposed to a foreign language at a

young age achieve higher levels of cognitive development at an earlier age.

(Bialystok & Hakuta 1994; Fuchsen 1989)

what the research says:

Research shows that bilingual people have an easier time:

• understanding math concepts and solving word problems (Zelasko and

Antunez, 2000).

• developing strong thinking skills (Kessler and Quinn, 1980).

• using logic (Bialystok and Majumder, as cited in Castro, Ayankoya, &

Kasprzak, 2011).

• focusing, remembering, and making decisions (Bialystok, 2001).

• learning other languages (Jessner, 2008).

what the research says:A dual language environment fosters greater cultural sensitivity,

increases self esteem and opens doors.

The advantages of knowing more than one language extend beyond academic

achievement. It includes a greater intercultural understanding as well as an

appreciation and respect for cultural differences (Cloud, Genesee, and

Hamayan 2000)

Being bilingual supports children to maintain strong ties with their family, culture

and community, which are key factors in developing identity for children

(Zelasko and Antunez, 2000)

In our global society, where up to 2/3s of adults speak at least two languages,

bilinguals have many advantages (Zelasko and Antunez, 2000). As adults they

will have more job opportunities around the world than monolingual adults

(Zelasko and Antunez, 2000). Research shows that bilinguals earn an average

of $7,000 more per year than their monolingual peers (Fradd, 2000).

what the data tells us:3 years of results

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

10-11 - reading 10-11 - math 11-12 - reading 11-12 - math 12-13 - reading 12-13 - math

Splash

non-Splash

State

Students achieve better results in every school. Overall,

Splash students performed better than their non-dual

language immersion peers on all 2012-13 state-mandated

tests:

Students achieve better results in every school. Overall,

Splash students performed better than their non-dual

language immersion peers on all 2012-13 state-mandated

tests:

Learning in two languages is fun and great for the

brain! Take advantage of the opportunity for your

child’s academic benefit!