Delaware World Language Immersion
In the 2016-17 school year, 22 Delaware schools offer immersion programs in 11 school districts across the state (see interactive map). These programs were established under former Governor Markell’s World Language Expansion Initiative, established in 2011. Part of this initiative establishes immersion programs beginning in kindergarten to better prepare Delaware students with the language skills they need to compete in an ever-changing global economy at home and around the world. Under the World Language Expansion Initiative, Delaware will graduate globally-competent students with advanced-level proficiency in languages, giving them an economic advantage in the multilingual and multicultural workforce of the 21st century.
World Language Immersion Programs offer a robust bilingual experience for young learners at the point in their cognitive development that is perfect for the acquisition of a new language. Students benefit from the instruction of two highly-qualified classroom teachers—one who will teach them for half of the day in English and the other for half of the day in the immersion language.
The English-speaking teacher will teach English Language Arts as well as select elements of science and social studies from the Delaware Recommended Curriculum and select elements of mathematics from the Common Core State Standards. The Immersion-language teacher will teach Language Arts for the immersion language, mathematics based on the Common Core State Standards, science and portions of the social studies curriculum. World Language Immersion students follow the same standards-based curriculum in all content areas that non-immersion students would follow in any other Delaware elementary classroom.
All Districts with Elementary World Language Immersion Programs have identified an uninterrupted K-12 Immersion pathway for students to continuously build toward advanced-level language proficiency. In the middle school, students will have a hybrid, online world language learning experience with Immersion language-speaking peers. In high school, immersion students will be able to take the AP Chinese or AP Spanish course in 9th grade and then participate in dual-enrollment or dual-credit courses with local universities.
World Languages as a 21st Century Workplace Skill
Delaware graduates who enter the job market with the ability to speak a world language other than English are at a significant advantage. Additionally, world language capacity is crucial for the state to maintain and strengthen its domestic economy. The state currently offers two Immersion languages: Chinese and Spanish. For information about enrolling your child in one of these Delaware World Language Immersion Programs, contact a participating school or district.
Program Locations
Additional Resources
- Lead with Languages Information demonstrating the necessity of world language learning in the workplace. Includes language specific information linking languages to specific career pathways.
- Delaware Immersion Instructional Model and Content Split
- Summative ReportContains recommendations for the Middle School Immersion Continuation Program. Highlights the need for students in elementary immersion programs to continue their immersion education throughout middle school and into high school.
- The Multilingual Mind
