Thank you for your continued support of French Dual Language Immersion at Evansdale Elementary School. DCSD looks forward to providing the opportunity for your children to continue the DLI program in the middle school.

• During the 2019-2020 school year, students in the elementary dual language immersion program will continue the middle school pathway that was previously shared with parents and guardians. The students will take two courses taught in French in the 6th grade, two courses taught in French in the 7th grade, and 1 French course taught in the 8th grade. They will continue their study in the 9th grade in Advanced Placement French followed by dual enrollment courses or a third language in the 10th grade. Internships may also be available.
  

• The dual language immersion program and the magnet program are separate pathways.
  

• Students continue as a cohort to the middle school. In the 6th and 7th grades, students will be enrolled in French Advanced Language and Literacy and Social Studies which will be taught in French. The 6th and 7th grade classes will be paired in a block consisting of two class periods. During the 8th grade, students will take French Advanced Language and Literacy. Social Studies will be taught in English. The 6th grade Advanced Language and Literacy standards have been approved by the Georgia Board of Education.
  

• The writing of the 6th grade Advanced Language and Literacy class curriculum is near completion. The class includes a study of advanced language content and in-depth study of culture. It also includes Media Literacy.
  

• The 6th grade social studies class, World Studies, is also near completion. The curriculum follows the DCSD World Studies curriculum with an additional focus on the interconnectedness of Frenchy with the rest of the world.
  

• The middle school curriculum is written so that it is interdisciplinary and there is a connection between the social studies and the French language class. This connection will provide students with the opportunity to achieve a deep cultural understanding as they continue to increase their language proficiency.

• The dual language immersion curriculum will be presented to the DeKalb School District Board in the spring for final approval.
  

• Resources for support of the middle school program have been identified. The resources will be updated throughout the year.
  
• The middle school will offer a Bridge Program to provide an introduction to the middle school French program and to provide support to students as they transition to the upper level grades. Information will be forwarded as soon as the specifics have been finalized.
  

• The STAMP test will be offered in the spring to 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade students. The second grade students will take the exam in the areas of speaking and listening. Students in the 4th and 5th grade will take the exam in all four modes of communication, reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
  

• Grade 7 Advanced Language and Literacy and the 7th grade World Studies curriculum will be developed and written during the next curriculum writing cycle. It will be articulated from the 6th grade curriculum.

Benefits of Dual Language Immersion

Students demonstrate:

• cognitive flexibility, increased attention and memory, superior problem-solving skills as well as an enhanced understanding of two cultures which helps strengthen one’s identity and sense of belonging.

• higher academic achievement in all content areas

• higher achievement on standardized tests in English as well as or better than English-only students, including students from a range of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds, as well as with diverse cognitive and linguistic abilities.

• an ability to assimilate into the global community and job markets in the 21st century

• higher performance on standardized assessments such as Advanced Placement (AP) exams as well as internationally recognized career-language credentialing exams.

• skills that create a competitive advantage in their chosen field, making them more attractive to colleges, career and technical programs, and employers.

• an advanced level in speaking, listening, reading, and writing of the world language.

Rhonda L. Wells

DCSD Coordinator of World Languages and Dual Language Immersion