ESOL Dual Language Immersion

Dual language education programs provide academic instruction in two languages. Social and academic learning occurs in an environment that values the language and culture of all students. Dual Language Immersion (DLI) sets high standards for academic success in both Spanish and English. In Fulton County, the DLI model creates a bilingual environment, enabling English learners to acquire the English language while developing and expanding their native language.

In Fulton County, classroom instruction is a 50:50 one-way ESOL model. Fifty percent of the instruction is in English, and fifty percent is in Spanish. All students learn to read, write, listen, and speak in both languages equally.

The Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program is offered as an ESOL model, with most students being native Spanish speakers. Fulton County has three DLI schools: Lake Forest, Mimosa, and Hapeville. Lake Forest and Mimosa each started their programs with one kindergarten cohort of 50 students in the fall of 2017, while Hapeville opened its first kindergarten cohort in 2018. Each year, a new grade level was added, and Fulton now offers three K-5 DLI ESOL programs.

Students in grades K–5 receive English Language Arts (ELA) instruction in both English and Spanish.

• From Kindergarten through second grade, students receive ELA integrated with Science and Social Studies, Student Success Skills and Intervention in English, while Math is taught in Spanish.
• In grades three through five, the instructional model shifts: Math and ELA are taught in English, while Student Success Skills, Intervention, and ELA integrated with Science and Social Studies are delivered in Spanish.

Dual Language Immersion teachers in Fulton County take a comprehensive approach to literacy instruction in both Spanish and English. This approach integrates content, literacy, and language instruction and connects reading with oral language and writing. Teachers in Fulton experience initial training at the Teaching for Biliteracy Institute. Following initial training, continued support is ongoing at the district and school level.

To develop bilingualism, biliteracy, and biculturalism by:

·       Develop high levels of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in both Spanish and English

·       Help students meet or exceed grade-level academic performance on state standards in Spanish and English

·       Take advantage of the optimal window of learning a second language during the primary years

·       Nurture cross-cultural competence

FY26DLIBrochure.pdf