LANGUAGE LEARNING IN PRIMARY SCHOOL
We often say that becoming bilingual and biliterate is a goal at WIS… not a prerequisite.
Some families come to WIS speaking only English in the home, while others may be native speakers of French or Spanish.
- Students in Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten follow a language immersion program in French or Spanish. All of our Early Years classrooms are staffed by a teacher and a teacher assistant, which gives students valuable exposure in listening to their target language being spoken.
- Students in Grades 1 to 5 spend half of their academic class time working in English and the other half in either French or Spanish.
- French as an Additional Language (FAL) and Spanish as an Additional Language (SAL) are open to applicants to Grades 1 to 5, even if they do not already speak French or Spanish.
While WIS’s educational program is grounded in the belief that language learning is important for its own sake, we also recognize that there are other benefits to being bilingual or multilingual, from improved executive skills to an enhanced ability to pick up on social cues. Research has proven this again and again:
- Consider the arguments offered in this New York Times online forum discussion.
- A New York Times article explains "Why Bilinguals are Smarter".
- The Washington Post highlighted the benefits of bilingualism.
PRIMARY SCHOOL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS
| Language Immersion Program – Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten |
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| WIS offers a total Language Immersion Program in French or Spanish. Experience in French or Spanish is not needed. Many children enter WIS for Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, or Kindergarten speaking only English, while others are fluent in or have some knowledge of Spanish or French. Still others speak another language. Our three Early Years grades are open to all levels of language learners. |
| Dual Language Program – English/French and English/Spanish – Grades 1 through 5 |
| WIS offers a Dual Language Program in English/French and English/Spanish. Students spend alternating days of academic instruction time in English and French or Spanish. Applicants are expected to be reading, writing, and speaking on grade level in French or Spanish and will have their language proficiency assessed during the admissions process. |
| French as an Additional Language (FAL) – Grades 1 through 5 |
| This program is open to beginning French learners, as well as to students who have some knowledge of French, but are not yet ready to join the Dual Language Program. Grade-level proficiency in English is required. |
| Spanish as an Additional Language (SAL) – Grades 1 through 5 |
| This program is open to beginning Spanish learners as well as to students who have some knowledge of Spanish, but are not yet ready to join the Dual Language Program. Grade-level proficiency in English is required. |
