Language Immersion (6-8)

Middle school years are a time of exploration and tremendous academic, social, emotional, and physical growth. In Minnetonka, our middle school teachers are experts in understanding and inspiring, and we've designed our Language Immersion model to specifically meet the needs of middle school students. While continuing to target language development, our middle schools also provide students with opportunities to expand friendships, access honors level classes taught in English (math, science, English Language Arts), participate in our rich music and fine arts program, and learn through project-based, hands-on experiences. All components are essential to early adolescent social and emotional development.

Language Immersion and the Middle School Student

Overview

Minnetonka’s Language Immersion Program began in 2007 at all six elementary schools with the goal of providing English-speaking children the opportunity to acquire fluency in a second language. Minnetonka’s Middle School Language Immersion Program offers both Spanish Immersion and Chinese Immersion. Minnetonka’s program is the largest Immersion program in Minnesota.

Middle School Immersion

Students continuing their language immersion in middle school language will continue building fluency and confidence in a second language while deepening cultural understanding. Students strengthen their abilities in reading, writing, speaking and listening through meaningful academic experiences designed for the middle school years. Language immersion supports bilingualism, global awareness and long-term language development in a rigorous, engaging environment.

Design

Minnetonka’s Middle School Language Immersion Program was specifically designed to meet the needs of the middle school student. While encouraging students to continue in the Language Immersion program, the middle school program provides opportunities to expand friendships and peer groups through class scheduling, field trips and project-based learning opportunities whenever possible, and access to honors level classes.

While in middle school, a student studying an immersive language will continue their language development with a focus on writing, reading, speaking, and listening, with access to other course options and a common schedule relative to English language students. This is essential to early adolescent social and emotional development.

Outcomes

The District has seen incredible results from the elementary program and is committed to providing students with opportunities to continue developing their second language fluency throughout middle school and high school. Assessment results reveal that students are being well prepared in both the English language and the Immersion language. It is critical that these skills be expanded to enable students to be highly successful in middle school, high school and college.

Opportunities

In all three grades, students have elective opportunities and follow a class schedule that will prepare them to transition to high school. Minnetonka also offers students choice in continuing their Immersion language learning or, perhaps, starting a third language during middle school. While we encourage all Immersion students to work toward second-language adult fluency, we recognize that choice is part of the middle school experience, and our model can accommodate various options for students.

Immersion Curricular Areas

Immersion curricular areas

6th Grade

In 6th grade, students enroll in Immersion Social Studies paired with Immersion Language Arts for the entire year. Aligned with state standards, social studies expand students’ understanding of history by exploring the geography and historical developments of people, places and patterns of life from a combination of ancient civilizations and Minnesota history. Immersion Language Arts improves students’ reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in the target language.

7th Grade

In seventh grade, Immersion Social Studies is again paired with Immersion Language Arts for the entire year. Students may choose to take either a quarter-long Spanish or Chinese Culture and Arts course, or begin a new world language.

8th Grade

Eighth grade students have the following options:

Maximize Immersion learning by continuing in both Immersion Social Studies and Immersion Language Arts.
Study world Language with a focus on literature.
Enroll in either the Immersion Social Studies or Immersion World Language course only.
Begin level one of a new world language.

Middle School Language Immersion Paths

Flex-schedule Model

Our Middle School Language Immersion Program uses a flex-schedule model that maximizes the overall middle school experience and extends language learning.

The benefits of the flex-schedule model include continued language development with a focus on writing, reading, speaking and listening; full access to other course options (including honors courses, support programs and all electives), and a common schedule relative to English students.

Points to Consider

As a family, it is important to consider your immersion goals, and think ahead about the possible opportunities and benefits of becoming fluent in a second language: