¿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 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 2020–21 is open March 2 through May 14 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 later this month.)
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:
L'auteur et illustrateur Rémi Courgeon vient à Trip ES: French author and illustrator Rémi Courgeon shared his work and his own story with DLI students in grades 3-5 at Trip ES… all in French! (2019-20)
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)