Information in English

Providing our students with ALAS (wings)
Academic Language Acquisition in Spanish

What is a DLI Education?

Dual Language Immersion (DLI) teaches literacy and content in two languages and prepares students with 21st century skills combined with a global awareness and developed worldview.

Dual Language Education Overview

Dual Language Education consists of both Two Way and One Way Bilingual programs. These programs are considered “additive” models of Bilingual Schooling for English Learners. An additive program refers to a program structure where students continue to develop cognitively in their first language as they acquire their second language.

• Two Way: Two language groups taught through their two languages
• One Way: One language group taught through their two languages

About Our Program

What is Dual Language Immersion?

Dual Language Immersion is a form of education where students are taught literacy and content in two languages. It prepares students for 21st-century learning, as well as college and career opportunities that will lead to success in the global economy. We have highly qualified bi-literate, bi-cultural teachers to ensure success in the program. 

The Dual Language Immersion ALAS Program is a program of choice. Parents must apply for their children to participate. In this program, 90% of the instruction is in the target language (Spanish) and 10% of the instruction is in English for both Kinder and 1st grades. Each year after that, the languages of instruction are adjusted until both languages reach an equal 50% to 50%instructional time in the eighth grade in a sequential learning model. Children learn to read in Spanish first building a strong foundation of literacy in the target language before transitioning into English reading.

• Who may attend?
  Any incoming TK and kindergarten student may apply to be a part of this program of choice. Each class will be filled with students who are native Spanish speakers and those who are native English speakers.
• Where is it located?
  The Dual Language Immersion program is offered at the Mt. Pleasant STEAM/Ida Jew ALAS campus, 14275 Candler Avenue, San Jose, CA 95127, a TK-5 school.

Ida Jew Academy offers the DLI program as an ALAS strand option also known as a school within a school model. In this model, designated classrooms implement the (DLI) program while other classrooms remain as Non-DLI classes. All children will contribute to the overall school culture knowing that both DLI and Non-DLI programs co-exist within their school.

Curriculum

Our Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program utilizes a core curriculum taught in both Spanish and English languages. The teacher never uses both languages at the same time. Our teachers are highly trained in delivering lessons that are understood by all students, regardless of home language. Hands-on experiences help students learn the language and content in a supportive learning environment

• California Academic Standards are taught in all subjects area.
• Teachers receive continuous professional development to enhance the delivery of instruction that promotes high levels of academic language and literacy.