Language Immersion

Is a method of teaching a second language in which the target language (or L2) is used as the means of instruction. Unlike more traditional language courses, where the target language is simply thesubject material, language immersion uses the target language as a teaching tool, surrounding or "immersing" students in the second language. In-class activities, such as math, science, social studies,and history, and those outside of the class, such as meals or everyday tasks, are conducted in the target language.
Age
Early immersion: Students begin the second language from age 5 or 6.
Middleimmersion: Students begin the second language from age 9 or 10.
Late immersion: Students begin the second language between ages 11 and 14
Extent
In total immersion, almost 100% of class time isspent in the foreign language. Subject matter taught in foreign language and language learning per se is incorporated as necessary throughout the curriculum. The goals are to become functionallyproficient in the foreign language, to master subject content taught in the foreign languages, and to acquire an understanding of and appreciation for other cultures. This type of program is usuallysequential, cumulative, continuous, proficiency-oriented, and part of an integrated grade school sequence. Even in total immersion, the language of the curriculum may revert to the first language of thelearners after several years.
In partial immersion, about half of the class time is spent learning subject matter in the foreign language. The goals are to become functionally proficient in the secondlanguage (though to a lesser extent than through total immersion), to master subject content taught in the foreign languages, and to acquire an understanding of and appreciation for other cultures.
Intwo-way immersion, also called "dual-" or "bilingual immersion", the student population consists of speakers of two or more languages. Ideally speaking, half of the class is made up of native...