Immersion programs allow students to learn a second language while in elementary school by spending half of their day in the target language. Davis County offers a variety of different language options for interested parents and students including Mandarin, French, and Spanish. Immersion programs have shown benefits in cognitive development, learning skills, and can help students to increase cultural literacy by learning about experiences outside their own.

Foxboro Elementary School is included in these schools with a K-6 immersion program that helps students in the program graduate from elementary school with a good grasp of French. Not all instruction during the day is in French. Students switch teachers halfway through the day, either starting or ending their school day with instruction in school subjects taught by a native French speaker. 

On the French side of instruction is Zoe Lesgourgues who taught at Foxboro for the last couple of years. Lesgourgues is from southeastern France and earned her master’s degree in teaching before coming to the United States as part of a teacher exchange program. Her experience teaching in the United States has been very different than teaching in France. “The schools and parents here are much more supportive,” Lesgourgues said. “My students have iPads where many schools in France do not even have internet. I’ve really enjoyed teaching here.”

Lesgourgues teaches science and math exclusively in French but also offers students extra support if the subject is difficult. “For me, it’s most important that the students enjoy speaking French,” she said. “If there is a concept that is difficult for them in French and they cannot express themselves yet, I encourage them to learn about it in English. Then, after they have a good understanding, it is easier to understand and talk about it in French.”

The most important thing is that students enjoy learning and speaking French, she said. “If it’s fun for them they will learn it so much better. We try to keep it fun, repeat ourselves as much as we can, and help them to enjoy the experience of learning and speaking French.”

One benefit of immersion is having two teachers in the classroom. Korbie Harrison, a second grade teacher at Foxboro, handles the English half day instruction while her partner teacher Julien Pessin teaches the other half in French.With two teachers, students can learn from different teaching styles and have twice the support if they are struggling. “It is also helpful for the teachers,” said Harrison, “because we can discuss together how to help students in need of extra support.” 

A potential drawback of immersion can be that students may not have as much variety with their classmates as kids in English-only learning. For many kids, this leads to deep friendships and relationships that extend beyond their time at elementary school, but for others, Harrison said, it can be difficult for kids to avoid someone they do “not mesh well with.” Harrison said that this has not generally been a problem for students, but it is something for parents to consider as their child starts immersion. 

Harrison encourages families who have not considered immersion programs yet to think about it. “It’s a public school program so there is not any extra cost and it teaches students valuable learning skills beyond the target language,” she said. “Students also do not have to start in kindergarten. Starting in first, second, and even third grade is possible. I’ve had students who start in my class and are comfortable within a few months.”

The biggest misconception immersion programs face, said Lesgourgues, is that it’s only for the “smart” kids. “Any student can succeed in an immersion program. Children are like sponges – they learn so quickly. It’s not important for the parents to speak the language or for the student to have a background in that language. The most important thing is that the student is willing to try and is comfortable with making some mistakes.”