About Spanish Immersion

The school community works to help students:

• High academic achievement in all elementary subject areas in both English and Spanish.
• Acquire a high level of proficiency  in both English and Spanish, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
• Develop an understanding and appreciation of different cultures, including students’ own.

At Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School, students are immersed in the Spanish language and culture while they learn reading, writing, mathematics, science, social studies and other subject areas. The curricular content and outcomes are aligned with the District's other elementary schools. However, students at PSI are learning the content in both English and Spanish.

Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School began in 1996 with two kindergarten classrooms. We are currently an elementary school serving more than 540 students in kindergarten through fifth grade and have a diverse school staff that represents over 14 countries.

No. Immersion has been used in Canada since the 1960s and in the United States since the early 1970s. Immersion schools in the United States have gained popularity as an effective method of language and content learning. In reality, the immersion concept has been around for thousands of years since it is the way all of us learn our native language. In immersion, language learning is done in such a natural way that students are comfortable with the instruction. Children are excellent mimics. They are eager, curious and less self-conscious than adults in experimenting with and acquiring new languages.

Teachers in the dual language immersion program are specially trained to make instruction meaningful through the use of visuals, objects, gestures, and specialized instructional strategies.
 
In kindergarten, most of a student’s day takes place in Spanish. Students do receive purposeful English phonics instruction four times a week by a dedicated English teacher.

Specialists are also done in English or bilingually, daily for all grade levels. As students move through the grade levels they are gradually exposed to more English instruction. The English teachers work in tandem with the Spanish classroom teachers to plan together to help ensure that students are successful in both English and Spanish. PSI students have the same English language outcomes as the students in the other three St. Louis Park elementary schools. English Multi-Lingual Learner classes are offered for multilingual students who qualify. 

Research consistently finds that the immersion experience actually enhances English language development. During the first few years of the immersion program, students' English development may lag temporarily in reading and English language skills. However, by the end of elementary school this discrepancy disappears and immersion students tend to perform as well or better than their monolingual peers. It is important to remember that the initial lag is temporary and to be expected.

The goal is for students to speak Spanish fluently. They will also have strong enough reading, writing, and listening skills to master the core academic subjects in Spanish.

No. Teachers use instructional techniques, which help students understand what is being taught, and they consider this when they communicate with families.

Many of our teachers grew up in Spanish-speaking countries and all classroom teachers have a high level of Spanish proficiency. PSI classroom teachers have traveled or lived abroad and have an excellent understanding of other cultures and the value of global education. 

In addition to the licensed teachers, PSI is fortunate to have Spanish speaking teaching interns and classroom assistants working with our students. The classroom interns live with families during their semester of year-long assignments and are supported by the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO).

A dedicated commitment is essential for children to experience the great benefits an immersion education yields. Parents support their children in many varied ways by:

• Making a long-term commitment to immersion education
• Providing experiences outside of school to develop English language skills.
• Developing an understanding of immersion education
• Encouraging the use of Spanish outside of school through daily reading
• Supporting daily attendance

Park Spanish Immersion School has a strong and active Parent-Teacher Association (PTO). Many volunteer opportunities exists in the school to help support its learners.