The Spanish Language Immersion Program began at Delmae Elementary School in the Fall of 2016. We are the first school in Florence One Schools to offer this type of language instruction to students. Students entering kindergarten are eligible to be enrolled into the program based on availability. Students have the opportunity to grow with the program throughout their years at Delmae, becoming increasingly fluent in both English and Spanish.
Through our dual language program, students are immersed in the Spanish language while following the same South Carolina standards and guidelines as all other students, giving students an opportunity to become bilingual citizens in our global community. Students spend 50% of their day learning grade level content in the area of ELA in English, and the other 50% learning grade level content in the areas of math, science, and social studies in Spanish. With the inclusion of cross-curricular instruction, students become bilingual in the areas of reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Research shows that dual language learning and bilingualism:
- Improves working memory by encouraging brain growth and triggering concentration
- Increases academic achievement
- Prepares students for a global society
- Creates awareness of cultural diversity
- Allows for greater opportunities in future careers
