What is the nature of IST’s Dual Language program?
Children spend three years in a full-immersion Spanish / French / other language programme from Pre-Kindergarten to Kindergarten, or roughly from age three up to age six; from Junior One, or approximately age six, the child spends half his/her day in a full-immersion Spanish / French / other language programme and half his/her day in a full-immersion English programme. During this time, the child learns both languages through natural language-acquisition patterns. The aim of the Pre-School immersion programme is that the child enters Junior One with equivalent levels of oral competency in both languages, thus the child develops two mother tongues. The aim of the Junior School immersion programme is that the child enters Middle School with equivalent levels of competency in both languages in both listening / speaking and reading / writing.
