Spanish Immersion Programs

Spanish immersion programs have become popular throughout the United States, and now many schools in Utah, such as Sand Springs Elementary in Layton are starting to use these programs as well.

Sand Springs Elementary is one of 263 schools in the United States that have adopted a Spanish immersion program. These programs give parents the option of putting their children in a bilingual setting that allows them to fluently speak Spanish at the end of fifth or sixth grade. This gives the children the opportunity to take advantage of the current immigration situation in the United States

According to the U.S. Census, by the year 2050 the Hispanic population in the United States will be approximately 102.6 million, which is 24 percent of the population.

Jane Eskelsen, a teacher at Sand Springs, is one of three teachers at the school who believe these types of numbers are important. For that reason the school has agreed to help kids learn Spanish throughout their elementary years. This does not take away from the kid’s learning in English. The school’s curriculum is taught in both languages.

The Spanish immersion program at Sand Springs will help the kids involved be better off in the long run. When 24 percent of the population is Spanish speaking they will have the advantage of knowing the language and getting better jobs. Companies in the United States pay bilingual employees more than those who just speak English. It is a skill that is very valuable in the work place.

States such as California, Wisconsin and New Mexico started these types of programs over 15 years ago to address the needs of immigrants.

The children in these programs have had a very successful experience in the Spanish immersion programs. Over 80 percent of students who are in Spanish immersion programs, from kindergarten to sixth grade, graduate elementary with the ability to speak two languages.

The students at Sand Springs Elementary School enjoy what they are learning. “Most students do very well at their Spanish and enjoy learning,” said Jennifer Webster, the first-grade immersion teacher at Sand Springs. “Some may struggle at times but most are advancing very well.”

Volunteers are needed at the school. Many volunteers go to Sand Springs to help the children learn Spanish and the subjects they are required to know. “I love seeing the kids learn and speak Spanish,” said Taylor Arnold, a volunteer at Sand Springs.

The love for the program is common among teachers, students and volunteers at Sand Springs Elementary. Principal, Rebecca Hunt, is pleased with the progress the program has had in its first two years and is excited to see how the children continue to progress in the coming years. Sand Springs is in the first stages of its Spanish immersion development and teachers expect great things to come in the future.