French Dual Language Immersion Program

  • Mark White Elementary offers the option of enrolling in a French Dual Language Immersion Program.  We are the only school in HISD and the only public school in Texas to offer the French Immersion Program!
    Students will have the option of enrolling in a traditional program or the French Dual Language Immersion Program in grades PreK-5th. Students in the French Dual Language Immersion Program will learn how to read, write, and effectively communicate in French. Students will spend a portion of the day learning English and a portion of the day learning French. The ability to understand and speak more than one language is not the only benefit of immersion education. Learning a second language helps prepare students to thrive in a global economy, and also leads to academic success in all subjects, increased critical and creative thinking, and improved cognitive development.
     
     
    Why learn French?
    • More than 220 million people speak French, and it is spoken on all continents.  French and English are the only languages that are taught in every country in the world. French, after English, is the second most widely learned language in the world.
    • It is the official language of 32 countries.
    • French is a language of the future and will be spoken by 750 million people by 2050.
    • Knowing French gives students an advantage in the global marketplace.  It opens up employment opportunities in all French-speaking parts of the world.  This includes France, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, North and Sub-Saharan Africa.  In addition, knowing French will provide an advantage for seeking employment in international affairs, aeronautics, culinary arts, luxury goods, and culture. France is the third most likely location for foreign investment.
    • French is the working language and official language of the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and international courts.
    • French is a language of travel. Knowing French allows access to travel around the world to the 32 countries of which French is the official language.
    •Learning French will make the acquisition of additional languages easier.  It is a good base for learning additional languages such as Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.
    • 50 percent of English vocabulary is derived from French.
    • It is the third most used language on the internet, after English and German.  Being able to understand French allows you to have a wider connection to global perspectives and events via French international media outlets. 
     

Why Learn a Second Language?

  • • Students who learn a second language have increased academic ability. This is evident by increased achievement achievement on standardized tests.
    • Second language learning helps students develop creativity, problem-solving skills and math skills.
    • Learning a second language makes it easier to learn additional languages.
    • Knowing a second language opens opportunities for international study and work.
    • Being bilingual allows students to compete for jobs in a global marketplace.
    • Students who know a second language have increased self-esteem and develop empathy toward other people and cultures.