Dual Language Immersion Academy
Spanish • Korean • Chinese Mandarin
Dual Language Immersion is a unique educational model where children learn to think, read, write and communicate naturally in two languages. Anaheim Elementary School District offers DLI in three target languages Spanish, Korean and Mandarin Chinese.
DLI at all 24 Schools
Dual Language Immersion classes are now available at all 24 AESD schools. Click here to Register for AESD. For more information attend a DLI Parent Information Meeting or contact a school site.
What is DLI?
Dual Language Immersion is a unique educational model where children learn to think, read, write and communicate naturally in two languages: English and the target language. Native target language speakers and native English speaking students study together, beginning in kindergarten through 6th grade, to be bi-literate in both languages.
AESD’s Dual-language classrooms contain a mix of students who are English dominant with students who are dominant in the target language. This mix of students provides intensive interaction and learning. Students who participate in the program do not have to be native speakers of the target language. The program teaches students to speak, read, and write in the target language while maintaining a rigorous academic program in English. It is the expectation that students will participate in this program through the sixth grade in order to fully benefit from the approach.
Benefits of a DLI Education
Empowerment
Empowering students to achieve the highest academic, social, and linguistic skills furthering their access to future educational and economic success.
High Standards
Students are instructed according to the Common Core Content Standards for grade level competencies in all subject areas in both English and the target language.
Brain Development
Learning a second language stimulates the brain to develop higher level reasoning skills, which transfer to complex critical thinking in math, science, and language arts.
Self Esteem
Children who are educated in two languages have stronger self-esteem with more tolerance for, and more interest in, other cultures.
Schools in AESD with a DLI Academy
Spanish DLI Schools
Spanish Dual Language Immersion classes are available at 23 AESD schools. Contact your neighborhood school for more information on enrolling.
Click here to learn more about Spanish DLI
Korean DLI Schools
Anaheim Elementary School District will be starting Orange County’s first Korean Dual Language Immersion program in the Summer of 2019.
The Korean DLI program will be offered at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. As the district expands the DLI programs and considered what languages to add, Korean was chosen based on input from the community and because there is a strong Korean community in Orange County, but no existing Korean DLI program.
Click here to learn more about Korean DLI
Mandarin Chinese DLI Schools
The Mandarin Chinese Dual Language Immersion program is offered at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School.
Click here to learn more about Mandarin Chinese DLI
History of DLI at AESD
AESD’s DLI program was established in 2006
After over a decade of dual language instruction Anaheim Elementary School District’s DLI Academy has grown from just 26 students in 2006 to over 1,000 students and growing.
At the start of the 2019-2020 school year AESD began offering DLI programs at all 23 school sites.
26 Student
in 2006-2007
3,686 Students
in 2023- 2024
