Hopkins has two language immersion programs - Spanish Immersion and Chinese Immersion. At Eisenhower Elementary, these two pathways operate alongside an English pathway with a robust International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) framework connecting concepts and curriculum. Hopkins’ immersion programs follow a 90/10 model, meaning 90 percent of the content is Spanish or Chinese with English being introduced, or reinforced as biliteracy comes naturally to many students, in third-grade.
In this episode, we explore how learning a second language builds critical thinking and cultural competency in young children, the learning transference that occurs when you learn multiple languages, and the impact of the READ Act on immersion education.
Guests:
Melissa Ness, Principal of Eisenhower Elementary
Pamela Shrestha, second-grade Spanish immersion teacher
Yuqi Li, fifth-grade Chinese immersion teacher
Resources:
READ Act
International Baccalaureate
Chinese Immersion Spanish Immersion
