Immersion Programs - Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence:

Immersion is a means of acquiring a world language through content matter instruction. Students spend at least half of the day studying the regular grade-level curriculum in classes conducted in the world language. The other half of the day is conducted in English. In Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), mathematics, science, and health were chosen to be taught in the target language (French, German, Japanese, Korean, or Spanish) because these content areas use manipulatives and concrete, hands-on activities for instruction, which are especially suited to support the natural second language acquisition process. Literacy development in the world language is integrated throughout the various content areas. Students acquire the world language through interesting and meaningful activities as they learn the concepts of the various subjects. Students receive instruction in English for language arts and social studies during the other half of the day. The immersion teachers team with the grade-level English teachers to integrate the total FCPS curriculum. The goals of the FCPS immersion program are to foster grade level academic achievement, develop bilingualism and biliteracy as well as intercultural competence.

FCPS uses two immersion program types depending on the language composition of the students in the class.

World Language (or One-Way) Immersion Program Model:

World Languages Immersion program classes are predominantly composed of students learning the target language. Fairfax County Public School elementary students are able to learn French, German, Japanese, and Spanish at seven elementary schools through the world language immersion program beginning in kindergarten or first grade. Admission is granted via a lottery process.

Two-Way Immersion Program Model:

Two-Way Immersion program classes balance speakers and learners of the target language. Both student populations serve as peer language models during the respective language portion of the day to mutually benefit each group’s language acquisition process. Fairfax County Public School elementary students are able to learn Spanish and Korean at ten elementary schools through the two-way immersion program beginning in kindergarten. Admission is granted via a lottery process.

Studies have shown many advantages of bilingualism and biliteracy ranging from cognitive to economic and cultural benefits. The Center for Applied Linguistics links the following benefits to language acquisition at an early age.

“Learning a second language:

• Has a positive effect on intellectual growth and enriches and enhances a child's mental development
• Leaves students with more flexibility in thinking, greater sensitivity to language, and a better ear for listening
• Improves a child's understanding of his/her native language
• Gives a child the ability to communicate with people s/he would otherwise not have the chance to know
• Opens the door to other cultures and helps a child understand and appreciate people from other countries
• Gives a student a head start in language requirements for college
• Increases job opportunities in many careers where knowing another language is a real asset.”
   

Seats in the Kindergarten and 1st grade Immersion Program are filled via a lottery process. The lottery process is governed by School Board Regulation 3312 regulating Division-wide and School-Based Lottery Programs. Parents are encouraged to attend one of the informational meetings before enrolling their child. Meetings for kindergarten and first grade will cover information for both two-way immersion and world languages immersion programs.

Schedule of meetings for enrollment.

School-based lottery schools are only open to residents who live within the boundaries of these schools. If this is your base school and you are interested in applying, please contact the school directly.

County-wide lottery schools are open to all Fairfax County residents through a lottery process.

Transportation will not be provided for students residing outside the immersion school’s attendance area.

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The Cognitive Benefits of Being Bilingual

Dual Language Education Can Close Achievement Gap (Whitepaper)