Skip To Main Content

Language Immersion

ISP provides a true immersion experience, enabling our students to become truly bilingual, confident world citizens.

student smiles at camera while working with her teacher in a Japanese immersion classroom

True Immersion

Words, facts, numbers – give them to a child in isolation, and they mostly go “in one ear and out the other”. Like the rest of us, children learn best when they have context and interest in the subject at hand. That is why true immersion is so important.

Understanding a young child’s natural ability to learn language – through regular conversation (talking about getting dressed and eating meals), subject matter learning (math, social studies and science), and language arts (literature and writing).

Encouraging that ability from the first moment of school when teachers greet new students in the chosen language. Teachers speak only the chosen language, and children quickly learn and love that this is how we communicate.

 

a teacher points to questions written in Spanish during circle time

Immersing in culture as well as language. The cultures of our international faculty permeate every aspect of school life – stories, habits, customs, songs, celebrations, materials and learning resources.

Rigorous IB curriculum in language arts, math, social studies and science, all taught in the chosen language; plus English language arts, fine arts, music and PE. Our students are confident, capable, and well-prepared for middle school.

Skilled teachers with native-level fluency, so that our students develop the accent and understanding of rapid native speech that is critical for meaningful communication.

Students from a variety of ethnic, socioeconomic, and family backgrounds. This environment enables children to grow up in a naturally diverse world.

New families sometimes worry about how they will help their child with homework if they don’t speak the language. ISP parents will tell you that because they don’t speak the language, their children become resourceful and independent learners. The parents’ responsibility is to provide time, place and encouragement – and the rest is the student’s responsibility.

Language & Cultural Immersion by Track