St. Malachy to immerse students in language learning

No hablas español? No problemo.

This fall, St. Malachy is offering a new Spanish language immersion program to its students.

“I think its important ... because you hear the language even in the community,” said Principal Jennifer Simmons. “For our kids, it’s not going to be a language that’s going to be as natural as English, but it’s going to be a language they are going to benefit from knowing in the workplace as adults.”

The 30-week program will be offered for one hour after school on Mondays. Kindergarten through fifth grade will meet at 3:15 p.m., and middle school students will meet at 4:30 p.m.

The program, which will be taught by an instructor from The Language Project, is a language acquisition experience focused around live instruction, immersion and play.

“So it’s working with the language,” said Simmons. “They are not just going in and repeating rojo 15 times and knowing that’s red. It’s an active program.”

Simmons said she hopes the program takes off.

“The teachers are very much in support,” said Simmons. “They know it’s my ultimate goal to get Spanish added to the daytime curriculum.”

So far, the response has been positive. The K-5 section filled within four days and a waiting list has been started. Space is still available in the middle school section.

“People’s reaction has just been over the top,” said Simmons. “It’s been really neat.”