The value of being bilingual has become more apparent as our world gets smaller. And the best time to learn a second language is before age 12.
Enrolling your child in a private school that has a language immersion program gives them a competitive advantage that they will carry throughout their life. Whether the goal is to refine their abilities in a second language that is already spoken at home, or to help them attain better professional opportunities, the benefits of learning another language are numerous. Children who learn a new language today will become adults who are more likely to attend college, have higher SAT scores, and will earn more money than peers who can speak only English*.
Regardless of your child’s background, they can become proficient speakers in languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, Russian, Arabic, or German—languages that have been identified as critical to learn in today’s global marketplace.
In immersive study, your child will spend a percentage of their day being taught in a second language, in all subjects. Immersion levels can vary from partial (50 percent) to complete. Many private schools with language immersion programs also offer students unique study-abroad experiences.
Consider a language immersion program while your child is still in grade school, and remember that language immersion education is a long-term commitment, something they can (and should) continue throughout high school.
Visit a school that specializes in immersion programs for the language you’d like your child to learn, and see if it is right for you and your family.
*Educational Testing Service and the University of California Los Angeles.
Language Immersion
