Spanish Immersion Program
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We are excited to share that Christina School District will offer two-way Spanish Immersion as a part of our Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program in Fall 2022 at Oberle Elementary School in Bear, DE.
We will begin the Spanish Immersion Program at the kindergarten level with two cohorts, and then additional cohorts at the next grade level each year as students progress. That means the program will be full-scale K-5 for the 2027-2028 school year.
Christina School District serves a diverse student population of more than 14,000 students in the City of Newark and its surrounding suburban areas, including Bear, Brookside, Christiana, and Glasgow, as well as the City of Wilmington.
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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.
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The Delaware Dual Language Immersion (DLI) curriculum model engages students in two different languages throughout the learning experience and provides them with continued opportunities for intensive language learning through middle and high school. DLI is a research-proven instructional approach that prepares students to think, read and write in two languages, resulting in students becoming bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural.
50/50 Program Structure
In our 50/50 program structure model, students will spend half their instruction time in English, learning language arts and social studies, and half in Spanish, learning language arts, math, and science.
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Why Immersion?
1. Higher academic achievement of students in dual language programs
2. Greater cognitive flexibility and problem-solving ability
3. Students develop superior attention, mental flexibility, and memory
4. Students do better on standardized tests in math, reading, and vocabulary.
5.Improved cultural awareness and appreciation of our diverse community.
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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.
More than forty years of research documents the power of immersion education to help students attain high levels of world language proficiency. Apply to our Spanish Immersion Program today!
Please note: Kindergarten School Choice applications are accepted until the first day of school for the 2023-2024 school year.
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The Spanish Immersion Program at Oberle Elementary School is open to students entering Kindergarten. To apply:
- Complete the Delaware Standard Application for Education Options (Choice) Application, select ‘Oberle Elementary School’ from the school drop-down menu and then select ‘Spanish Immersion’
- All students who select the Spanish Immersion program at Oberle Elementary School must complete a Choice application whether they reside inside or outside of the feeder pattern for Oberle Elementary.
- Please note: Kindergarten School Choice applications are accepted until the first day of school for the 2023-2024 school year.
- Complete the Delaware Standard Application for Education Options (Choice) Application, select ‘Oberle Elementary School’ from the school drop-down menu and then select ‘Spanish Immersion’
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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.
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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.
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How to Apply
Enrollment in the Spanish Immersion Program is available for students entering Kindergarten. School Choice applications are accepted until the first day of school for the upcoming year.
