Program Types and Scheduling

There are different program types to utilize for a foreign language program. Each program is set up with different goals in mind as well as each requiring different things. The program types are total immersion, two-way immersion, partial immersion, content-based/content-enriched FLES, and FLES programs.

• Total Immersion programs are programs in which 50-100% of class time is spent learning subject matter taught in the targeted foreign language. It's goals are for students to become functionally proficient in language, master subject content, and to acquire an understanding of other cultures.
• Two-Way Immersion are programs that spend at least 50% of the time learning subject matter taught in the targeted language. The class includes students that are native English speakers as well as students whom are native speakers of the targeted foreign language. This class is set up so that students whom don't speak English can learn by interaction with the students whom speak English and vice versa. The goals of the program are for students to become functionally proficient in targeted language, master subject content, and to acquire an understanding of other cultures.
• Partial Immersion programs spend approximately 50% of the time learning subject matter taught in the targeted language. The goals of the program are the same as total immersion, just at a lesser extent.
• Content-Based FLES programs spend approximately 15-50% of the time learning subject matter taught in the the targeted language. The goals of the program are for students to acquire proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in the targeted language; to use subject content as basis for foreign language skills, and to acquire an understanding of other cultures.
• FLES programs spend approximately 10-20% of the time learning subject matter taught in the targeted language. These programs require a minimum of 30-40 minutes per class, 3-5 days every week. The goals of the program are the same as Content-Based FLES programs, except the goals for reading and writing are less due to the limited time allotted.

The next step to decide on is how to schedule the class. After deciding which program is needed, you'll  need to decide which type of scheduling will work best with it. There are different scheduling options:

•  Traditional scheduling - will allow for 40-55 minute classes
• Block scheduling - allows for class periods to be longer than those of traditional scheduling classes
• Intensive programs - are a formal instructional program that provides more than one hour per day of exposure to the targeted language
• Immersion programs - are programs that offer more than four hours of instruction in the targeted language.This includes total immersion, where 100% of the subject matter is taught in the target language, and partial immersion, where at least 50% of the subject matter is taught in the target language.
• Multilevel classes - this will help with conflicts, such as shortage on teachers, timing conflicts, and a low enrollment in the program. Multilevel classes combine students from different instructional levels into one classroom.