¿Hablas español? Parlez-vous français? 한국말을 하십니까?
Rising kindergartners have an opportunity to say “!Sí!” “Oui!” and “예!” with GCPS’ Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program— Spanish at Annistown, Baldwin, Bethesda, Camp Creek, Ivy Creek, Level Creek, and Meadowcreek elementary schools; French at Trip ES ; and, new for 2019-20, Korean at Parsons ES.
In DLI, students spend half of the school day learning in English and the other half learning content areas in the target language (Spanish, French, or Korean). Through the program, students will develop proficiency in both English and the new language, while ensuring both academic achievement and intercultural competence. The program launches with kindergarten students, then builds by one grade level every year
Registration for new kindergartners starting school in 2019–20 is open March 1 through May 9 at 3 p.m. The schools will accept transfers if available slots are not filled by students in the school zone and families provide transportation. (In addition to completing DLI registration paperwork, families should register for kindergarten. Watch for information about kindergarten registration during March.)
Sneak a Peek at DLI
Check out these GCPS TV videos and Communiqué stories for a behind-the-scenes look into DLI classrooms and activities:
Bilingual opera gives DLI students a taste of theater in second language: A troupe from The Atlanta Opera performed a bilingual adaptation of “The Barber of Seville” at several Gwinnett schools. Students in the district’s Dual Language Immersion program got to experience operatic theater in both English and Spanish in this interactive performance. (2018-19)
Teachers-to-be experience bilingual classroom with hands-on field trip: For 40 multilingual students from Meadowcreek HS, a field trip to Bethesda ES may encourage these future teachers to follow a career path that leads back to GCPS. (2018-19)
DLI students explore culture at Baldwin ES: DLI students at Baldwin ES explored the culture of Spanish-speaking countries in Central America and the Caribbean through presentations by parents, teachers, community members and a feisty troupe of dancing abuelitas. (2017-18)
A look back at Year Four of DLI in Gwinnett: In this GCPS TV video, we look at how our first class of DLI kindergartners had grown by 3rd grade. Today, those students are 5th graders and finishing their sixth year of DLI instruction! (2016-17)
Trip ES 2nd graders explore words and art… in French: A French artist and author visited the school for a French-only workshop. (2016-17)