French Immersion at Maryvale ES
How did the Immersion program begin in Montgomery County?
The Montgomery County Public Schools French Immersion Magnet Program was started in 1974 and was originally housed at Four Corners Elementary School. When Four Corners closed in 1982, the Immersion Program was moved to Oakview Elementary School, where it remained until June 1992, as one of the Blair Cluster magnet programs. At that time, due to space limitations at Oakview, the program was moved to Maryvale Elementary School in Rockville. Since the 1999–2000 school year, there have been two French Immersion Programs in Montgomery County Public Schools. The program at Maryvale E.S. serves students living in specific high school clusters in the northern part of the county. The other program, at Sligo Creek E.S. in Silver Spring, serves children in those high school clusters in the southern part of the county. Prospective parents are welcome to contact the Spring Mill or Metro Park Field Offices to determine in which catchment's area they reside. In the French Immersion Program students receive their subject matter instruction in French. In kindergarten through grade three, French is the only language used in the classrooms. In grade four, students are given instruction in English twice a week for 45 minutes during the second half of the school year. In grade five, students are given instruction in English for approximately four hours each week. Special subjects, i.e., art, music, and physical education, are also conducted in English in all grades.What are the goals of the Immersion program?
Students who graduate from the French Immersion Program in fifth grade should be able to:- Understand, speak, read and write French with ease.
- Perform on standardized achievement tests in English as well as or better than their monolingual peers.
- Successfully continue their studies in both English and French at the intermediate/middle school level.
- Describe and understand cultural aspects of French-speaking communities around the world.
How are French Immersion teachers selected?
Teachers are selected for the French Immersion Program based on:- Their overall teaching skills
- Native or near-native ability in French
- Excellent interpersonal skills, and
- A strong commitment to the immersion concept of education.
What is the curriculum of the Immersion program?
The French Immersion Program follows the MCPS Program of Studies at all grade levels. The main subject areas of Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies are taught entirely in French at all grade levels and this instruction is supported by the use of texts, novels, expository readings and audio-visual materials which are in French. All classroom discussions, presentations of objectives, homework, tests and follow-up activities are in French. The classroom teachers speak only in French at all grade levels. During the kindergarten year and up to December of the first grade year, students may respond to the teacher in English as well as in French. After December 1st of the first grade year, children are expected to use French exclusively. An English-speaking teacher other than the French Immersion teacher teaches English Language Arts in Grade 4 (in the second half of the year) and in grade 5. English instruction has two areas of emphasis: 1) aspects of language in which significant differences exist between French and English (e.g., capitalization, spelling, grammar, and punctuation) and 2) opportunities for students to read and write extensively through a literature-based instructional program that includes book reports, creative writing, and research reports.What are the benefits of Immersion programs?
Children in the French Immersion program learn the second language, and they achieve skills appropriate to their grade level. Research indicates that in immersion programs the amount of time spent using the target language is directly related to the student's proficiency. The MCPS immersion program maximizes the amount of time a student is immersed in French. Speaking a second language prepares students for many different career opportunities. It enhances self-confidence and fosters personal and social development. The children are apt to appreciate various cultures through the acceptance of language differences.How do I enroll my child in the Immersion program?
Admission to all grade levels of the French Immersion Program is based on expressed interest and on space available. Only students who are Montgomery county residents are admitted. The entering child must be five years old by September 1.A new “Immersion Interest” form can be downloaded from the MCPS website and must be submitted between February 1 and April 1 of the year in which the child will enter the program. You will need to include on the Interest form your child’s identification number, which can be obtained from his or her home school.
This process should be followed for every child entering the program even if a sibling is already in the program.
Prospective parents are strongly encouraged to learn about the programs by attending one of our three yearly Open Houses (the dates will be posted on our website in December) and/or by speaking to the coordinator, Mme. Zapatka, before faxing the Immersion Interest form to the address given at the bottom of the form.
While the program is suitable for learners of all abilities, children with serious delays in first language development or with auditory processing, auditory memory or general auditory impairment may not be successful in an immersion program.
Parents of immersion students are asked to show a visible commitment to the immersion program. The commitment can range from volunteering in a classroom on a regular (or periodic) basis, to providing the student with experiences in the French language. These experiences may include exposure to a range of materials in French as well as interaction with students and adults who speak French. One example might be as simple as encouraging the student to borrow French materials from the public library.back to topIs transportation provided?Bus transportation to both French Immersion programs is provided by MCPS. If you enroll in one immersion program and you do not live in its area, you must provide transportation. For students for whom transportation is provided, the Area Transportation Office establishes pick-up and drop-off points. Transportation to the pick-up and drop-off point is the responsibility of the parent.