IMMERSION EDUCATION

Spanish Immersion Our Spanish Immersion program at ZCS started in the fall of 2006. With Spanish being one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world, fluency in this language opens up an array of cultures and opportunities for our students.

灿燃 Brilla Intensamente Burn Bright

Mandarin Immersion Mandarin Immersion started in the fall of 2012. Mandarin Chinese is a character-based, tonal language which presents students with exciting new challenges and learning opportunities.

Both Programs • Immersion students comprise approximately 50% of the ZCS student body.

• In both programs, the students study the same core curriculum as the English classes, just entirely in either Spanish or Mandarin Chinese.

• Area high schools are providing options for our Immersion students grades 9-12.

Immersion Education ZEELAND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 334 W. CENTRAL AVE. ZEELAND, MI 49464 616.772.2609

www.zcs.org zeelandchristian

@ZeelandChristian

In our immersion program at ZCS, children are immersed in the target language, either Spanish or Mandarin Chinese, from the very beginning of their educational experience.

They begin to acquire their new language in much the same way as their first language, through meaningful communication and experiential learning.

Students in this program can be expected to attain developmentally appropriate bilingualism as they advance through the program. Initailly, all classroom instruction is solely in the target languge. Limited formal English instruction begins in 3rd grade. Even through middle school students continue to spend a portion of their day studying core content in their target language.

Why Immersion • Enhance a childs brain development • Native-like pronunciation and grammar control in target language • Improve a child’s understanding of his or her native language • Increase job opportunities • Better understanding of other cultures that make up God’s kingdom on earth

泽兰基督教学校 Escuela Cristiana de Zeeland

All immersion students also study the opposite language through a Mandarin or Spanish special three times a week.

Registration

Students may join both the Madarin Chinese or the Spanish program in preschool or kindergarten. We also accept new first grade students in our Spanish Immersion program.

What about English language Arts?

Interested in learning more?

Research shows that children in immersion generally perform at or above grade level expectations in English language arts. The intensely language-rich curriculum stimulates the language center of the brain, which causes growth in overall language skills.

Set up a personal tour of our immersion classrooms!

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