<!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; Normal 0 0 1 385 2195 18 4 2695 11.1282 &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; 0 0 0 &lt;![endif]-->Imagine your kindergartner arrived at school each day, tackled the fundamentals of reading and writing, listened to stories, and sang with her class...all in French.

At PS 58 in Brooklyn, this scene is reality. In the dual-language immersion program, now in its third year, the day is split between French in the morning and English in the afternoon. Half the students in two classes per grade are native English speakers admitted by lottery (they must be zoned for PS 58), and the other half are francophone children -- meaning they speak and understand enough French to pass a proficiency test. Zoned francophone children have priority, but if any spots remain, fluent children outside the zone may test in.

The program has gained such popularity that, according to Parent Coordinator Joan Bredthauer, interested parents have phoned from Paris and Montreal.<!--more-->

Stephanie Cherry, whose son attends kindergarten as a French speaker, raves about his experience this year. Not only is he having fun, but three months in, he's "speaking French more often at home–and spontaneously." He has also gained a lot of self-confidence from knowing two languages, even translating for a classmate who is learning English.

Other such programs exist around the city–more than 70 now–and their numbers are growing. The majority are Spanish, but there's also French, Korean (PS 32 in Queens), Chinese, and Haitian Creole (PS 189 in Brooklyn). PS 84 in Manhattan has dual language classes in both French and Spanish. PS 94 in Brooklyn offers Chinese and Spanish immersion.

Studies show that both English language learners and foreign language learners in such environments tend to perform better on standardized tests later in school. There is evidence that small children mastering two tongues gain in cognitive reasoning and expression. Aside from quantifiable benefits, Cynthia Felix, an instructional support specialist at the Department of Education who develops these programs in schools, says the children receive a rich "bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural education."

For a school to host dual-language classes, parents must mobilize and create momentum. In some cases, principals and school faculty may be interested but daunted by the steps that are involved–this is where outside support may be valuable. And then there is the funding. The State Education Department awards Two-Way Bilingual Education Grants where available, and of course it helps if additional support comes in from foreign embassies -- the French Embassy has been extremely proactive in furthering francophone programs around the city and donating materials and teacher training.

With a 50/50 ratio of  English language speakers and foreign language students in place, a supportive administration, and support from outside, passionate teachers can really make a difference in the success of these programs.  Cynthia Felix describes how, for lack of Chinese teaching materials, teachers at PS 94 in Brooklyn brought books from China in their suitcases, and have even fashioned their own textbooks where needed.

The next challenge for budding bilingual children lies in finding comparable programs in middle school and beyond, where specialized teachers must also teach in two languages.

Jennifer Devlin, mother of a kindergartner at PS 58, loves that her daughter is learning French but wonders what will happen after 5th grade; a group of like-minded parents has been meeting to explore possibilities. Middle school CIS 22,  in the Bronx hosts 50/50 classes in Spanish and French, and the High School for Dual Languuge and Asian Studies boasts immersion in Chinese, but right now there is a dearth of  dual languages beyond elementary school.

Seeking a dual language program for your child? You can search for them in our Find a School section.

Does your child learn a foreign language at school, or would you like to see a dual language program put in place?