MANCHESTER- “¿Vocabulario en español es esa palabra en ingles? Vocabulary, ¡Muy Bien!”
The Spanish and English exchange, played in a video shown at the December 9 Teaching and Learning meeting, offering a glimpse into everyday life inside a dual language-immersion class at Bakersville. Students from the program, along with its sister French immersion program at Weston, were in attendance to sing in Spanish, English and French.
Students in the programs are taught using grade-level academic content in both English and Spanish or English and French. The goal is for all students to leave the program bilingual and biliterate by the end of fifth grade.
The Spanish dual language immersion (DLI) program was the first of its kind in New Hampshire. It began with a kindergarten class at Bakersville in the fall of 2024. It has since expanded to include a second kindergarten class and two first grade classes. The program will continue to grow by one grade level each year until a fifth grade class is added.
A kindergarten French DLI program was launched in the fall of 2025 at Weston.
“Implementing any program can be challenging, especially a program that is unlike anything we have done in the past. We have all learned a lot about dual language education together,” said Wendy Perron, executive director of multilingual learner education. “This team has worked very hard.”
The district is turning to school districts in other states that have implemented similar DLI programs for advice and inspiration, including going on campus visits in Massachusetts earlier this fall. A DLI consultant was also brought in to help identify instructional resources for the French program.
The district has also launched a French after-school program at Webster, Northwest and Bakersville this year, with 15 to 20 students participating at each site.
“We are thrilled to see our students thriving and expanding their language skills in this supportive after school environment,” says assistant superintendent Nicole Doherty.
Research has shown cognitive, academic and social benefits for students enrolled in DLI programs, including higher test scores, an expanded worldview, and more job opportunities once they reach adulthood.
For more information on the dual language immersion programs, click here.