Spanish Immersion Program

We are excited to offer two-way Spanish Immersion as a part of our Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program at Oberle Elementary School in Bear, DE.

The Spanish Immersion Program launched in Fall 2022 at the kindergarten level with two cohorts. Additional cohorts are added at the next grade level each year as students progress.

By the 2027-2028 school year, the program will be fully implemented for grades K-5 and will continue to expand each year until it becomes a comprehensive K-12 program.

Oberle Elementary School (Grades K-4)
Gauger-Cobbs Middle School
Glasgow High School

What is Two-Way Spanish Immersion?

In a two-way Spanish immersion model, classrooms would be a mix of English-speaking students and Spanish-speaking students. Students learn both languages during the school day together in the classroom with Spanish-speaking and English-speaking instructors.

Studies have shown that dual language immersion is beneficial for all learners, due to the ability to close academic gaps, increase brain power, and develop empathy.

Heritage language learners, in two-way programs, are able to sustain their language, culture, and appreciation for their home languages.

The program is also open to students who speak languages other than English or Spanish.

Participating School

Oberle Elementary School
(302) 834-5910

Spanish Immersion Program - Christina School District (PDF)

Why Immersion?

Higher academic achievement of students in dual language programs
Greater cognitive flexibility and problem-solving ability
Students develop superior attention, mental flexibility, and memory
Students do better on standardized tests in math, reading, and vocabulary.
Improved cultural awareness and appreciation of our diverse community.

What to Expect from an Immersion Program

Dual Language Immersion offers a rich bilingual experience for young learners when their minds are developmentally best able to acquire a second language; when their brains are hard-wired for language acquisition. Children at this age are adept at picking up language in meaningful contexts.

In class, the Immersion-language teacher speaks only in that language and communicates using a wide range of engaging strategies including pictures, songs, games, body language, expressions, pantomime, drama, etc. After about halfway through kindergarten immersion study, students too will be encouraged to speak only in the immersion language during that portion of the day.

From first grade forward, both teachers and students will conduct all learning and conversations in the immersion language during that portion of the day. You will be delighted how quickly your child becomes a comfortable and competent speaker of Chinese or Spanish.

About 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.

Grades K-5

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.

Grades 6-12

The Spanish Immersion continuation program will expand into grades 6-8 at Gauger Middle School, with students spending 30% of the day in the Spanish immersion language and taking two courses of Spanish language arts and social studies.

Spanish DLI students will continue in 9th grade, with students spending 15% of the day in the target language, with most DLI students taking the AP Spanish Language and culture course.

Students will have the chance to apply for a dual-enrollment program from Grades 10-12 and receive credit for college-level language courses and earn a minor in Spanish at UD or at Del State.

How to Apply

Our Spanish Immersion Program is open to students entering Kindergarten, with limited capacity available for grades 1-4. Students applying for grades 1-4 must have previous experience with Spanish knowledge and background.

School Choice Options

School Choice allows for a parent/legal guardian residing within Delaware may apply to enroll their child in a public school in any school district, charter school, magnet school, or vocational-technical school, regardless of the student’s area of residence.

Elementary (Grades K-4)

Elementary (Grades K-4)

Open to students entering Kindergarten, with limited capacity available for grades 1-4. Students applying for grades 1-4 must have previous experience with Spanish knowledge and background.

How to Apply

All applicants must complete a Choice Application (regardless of where they reside)
Select Oberle, then Spanish Immersion
An assessment is required for students seeking admission to grades 2–4 of the Spanish Immersion program.

Resources

Delaware World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages