Richland 1 students to begin phasing in a new language for the immersion program

Richland 1’s language immersion program will start offering French in the 2020-2021 school year, the district announced Thursday.

The language immersion program is based at Carver-Lyon Elementary School, but is open to students throughout the district, according to a press release.

“Being bilingual has long-term advantages because it can make students more marketable and give them a competitive edge in college and the workplace,” Teresa Turner, director of Richland 1’s Magnet Schools Assistance Program, said in a press release. “The number of job offers requiring a command of at least two languages more than doubled in the United States between 2010 and 2015, and French is now the third most sought-after foreign language among U.S. employers.”

Another one of the arguments for learning French is that it is reportedly one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn, according to an article from Business Insider, which describes the English language as a “mutant stepchild of German and French.”

Richland 1 will phase in the French program by adding one grade per year, Richland 1 spokeswoman Karen York said in an email.

That means in 2020-2021, the program will include only 5-year-old kindergarten (5K). In 2021-2022, the program will include kindergarten and first grade. In 2022-2023, it will include kindergarten, first grade and second grade, and so on, York said.

Richland 1 does not expect to have a 4-year-old kindergarten (4K) French immersion program, York said.

Those who want to apply to the language immersion program are required to attend a parent information session and apply by Jan. 31, according to the district’s website. If the number of applications is more than the number of available seats, students will be accepted into the language immersion program through a “lottery” system.

The remaining parent information sessions are on Jan. 10 at 8 a.m. and Jan 13 at 5:30 p.m. There are 32 slots open for the French program.

Those who want more information can contact either magnet lead teacher Della Thigpen at 803-343-2900/della.thigpen@richlandone.com or principal Principal Monica Adams at 803-343-2900/monica.adams2@richlandone.org, according to the district’s website.