"The world is richer than it is possible to express in any single language" - Ilya Prigogine

Global Village Academy's World Language Program

Learning Language Through Immersion

Immersion is the method by which we all learn our native language. As infants, we are surrounded by people speaking a specific language, like we are surround by the air we breathe, and we learn our first language rapidly and with ease. Immersion education in a second language takes the same approach. At Global Village Academy, students spend their day immersed in a second language as they use their natural ability to learn the new language. Learning a second language in this way when young is much easier than learning it later in life.

Benefits of Learning a Second Language

Academic achievement levels of children educated in a second language using an immersion program often surpass those of children educated solely in English.
Learning a second language when young enables a language-learning part of the brain to mature and then to facilitate other language learning throughout life.
The exposure to multiple languages and cultures creates a learning environment that is engaging, challenging, exciting, and one that children thoroughly enjoy.
Children who were adopted internationally or who have extended family who speak a different language are able to learn the second language and stay connected with that culture and with role models from that culture.
Learning a language in elementary school enables the student to speak without a “foreign” accent, like a native speaker.
Our world is becoming more global and interdependent, and there will be increased demand for people who can understand other cultures and communicate with people in other languages.

ACTFL Foreign Language Proficiency Guidelines (2647 KB)