The DoDDS objectives for these subject areas are followed but in the target language. Instruction in Language Arts and Reading is conducted in English. Also children participate the specialist classes of art, music and physical education in English. Their experience in Host Nation classes is another target language enrichment opportunity. The philosophy of teaching students a second language in a partial immersion class is based on the research on language acquisition.
Children learn to understand language before they begin to speak.
Language is acquired with practice over time, not in single experiences. Proficiency develops gradually through extended use. As children learn to speak the language, they process through various stages, e.g., one word responses, learned phrases, simple sentences, and then complex sentences. By the end of the first yearof being in a partial language immersion class, the child can be expected to communicate in simple sentences. As with first language acquisition, the rate of learning a second language is personal to each child.