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It’s an undisputed fact there are incredible benefits to learning a second language in your early (or even later) years of life. For this reason, all schools in Australia have a second language built into their curriculum for students to learn, with a variety of languages offered across the country. But did you know there are many schools in Brisbane which go one step further and offer language immersion programs?

Rather than a lesson or two a week, students at these schools who partake in immersion programs advance their language skills by completing 50–60% of the curriculum in a language other than English.

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Benefits of Learning a Second Language

There have been many studies conducted over the years on the effects and advantages of children learning a second language. The results have proven children who do so gain in many areas such as:

Socially – learning a second language helps to broaden a child’s view and understanding of the world and the different cultures and people who inhabit it outside of their own country.
Academically – there is a clear link between learning another language and literacy development in English, therefore learning another language enhances their literacy skills. Studies also show the benefits of learning a new language included higher scores on standardised exams in math, reading comprehension, and vocabulary by multilingual students compared to the scores of monolingual students.
It helps to improve their analytical and problem-solving skills as well as increases a child’s self-confidence, self-esteem, resilience and tolerance levels.
Studies have consistently shown that speaking more than one language can help delay the effects of dementia and Alzheimers as well as improve memory skills.
Career opportunities and the ability to work and travel abroad are greatly enhanced if a person can speak more than one language fluently.

Bilingual vs Immersion – Understanding the difference

Bilingual and immersion programs both support second-language learning, but they differ in focus and delivery. Bilingual programs teach students in two languages with the aim of developing proficiency and literacy in both. Immersion programs use the target language for a substantial part of instruction to build strong second-language skills, often with English remaining the main language for literacy development.

The best option for your student will always depend on your child’s needs, the school’s model, and the family’s language and learning goals.

Schools in Brisbane which offer language immersion programs

There are many schools who offer immersion programs to students. Students usually need to apply and be selected to partake in the programs which are generally offered to above-average students who the school believe will be capable of, and able to, handle the more difficult workload.

Below is a list of the schools in Brisbane which offer a language immersion program as well as information on which language they offer and how and when your child can commence the program.

Benowa State High School – French Immersion

Benowa pioneered French Immersion in Queensland and has been acclaimed nationally and internationally as the most successful model in extension studies and language education. For the past four years Benowa students have won the Language Perfect World Championships title, an international competition involving thousands of students studying in dozens of countries.

On completion, students will have gained a high level of proficiency in French that will enable them to sit the Diplome d’Etudes en Langue Francaise, if this is their ambition. This qualification is an internationally recognised French Proficiency exam and is required to allow students entry into offshore universities.

The selection criterion for students is based upon their academic performance in Year 6, NAPLAN and an academic entrance exam. A recommendation report from their Primary School teacher may also be used in order to evaluate the qualities needed to be successful in the Academic French Immersion Program. You can find more information on their website.

Ferny Grove State High School – German Immersion

The German Immersion program at Ferny Grove State High School offers students an exciting opportunity to develop a very high level of German language proficiency through learning the regular curriculum in German.

Students learn exactly the same curriculum as other students during Years 7, 8 and 9 in German. In Year 10, students continue to learn Science and Humanities and HPE in German, and begin the Senior German course. Towards the end of Year 10, students have the opportunity to travel to Germany on a three-week exchange program, staying with German families, attending school there and touring Germany.

Parents of interested students can indicate their interest in Year 6 by completing the relevant forms available from the school. Upon acceptance, you will be contacted by a member of the Languages Faculty to arrange a German Immersion interview. Students are selected on the basis of the interview, their primary school results and recommendations by their primary classroom and language teachers. You can find more information on their website.

Indooroopilly State High School – Spanish Immersion

The Spanish Immersion Program is an intensive course that provides students with the deepest possible exposure to a second language and culture. Students enter in Year 7 and receive instruction in at least 60% of the curriculum in the second language through to Year 9. Maths, Science, Spanish, History, Geography and Physical Education are taught in Spanish providing students with a very high level of language proficiency, linguistic skills, intercultural understanding, and personal enrichment and challenge.

Students may have the opportunity to travel to Spain, in their final year of the program where they will attend classes at the prestigious Real Colegio Alfonso XII High School. Beyond Year 9, students in the Immersion Program may complete their Senior Spanish studies in Senior Secondary and may choose to study Advanced Spanish at the University of Queensland in Year 12.

Applications for expressions of interest in the Spanish Immersion Program are required as is an interview. No previous knowledge of the language is required.

Kenmore State High School – German Immersion

The GIEP teachers are specialists in their respective areas and are either native speakers of German or have extensive experience in the German language. In German Immersion students study up to 70% of their program in the German language. Students and teachers use German to study Mathematics, Science, German, Social Science and Physical Education. Students in Year 10 may have the opportunity to take part in a German exchange program. Students study the regular Year 12 German course in Year 11 and the German Extension course in Year 12. Other subjects are studied in English in Years 11 and 12.

To be selected for the program students are asked to complete an application form and seek the recommendation of their primary schools. On receipt of the application, suitable candidates will be invited to an interview. Students are accepted on the basis of their primary school recommendations, school and other test results and their interviews. More information can be found on the Kenmore State High School website.

Mansfield State High School – French Immersion

The French Immersion Program is a four year highly innovative language-learning course which allows students to complete studies in Maths, Science, SOSE, HPE and French entirely in the French language. This gifted and talented program provides highly motivated students with the opportunity to extend themselves and to be challenged to do their best. Through the completion of this course, students may continue their French studies in the Senior school to an advanced extension level.

Entry into the program is via selection and to find out more details on the program and how to apply contact the school directly.

More information about the program can be found on the Mansfield State High School website.

Murrumba State Secondary College – Spanish Immersion

Murrumba State Secondary College offer both a Spanish acceleration and Spanish Immersion program. In the Spanish Immersion Program English-speaking students in Years 8-10 receive 50% of the curriculum in the second language. You can find out more information about the program and how to enrol via their Spanish Immersion Brochure or by contacting the school directly.

North Lakes State College – Italian Immersion

The Italian Immersion program at North Lakes State College is a three year program commencing in Year 7. The Year 7 Program is designed to gradually introduce students to lessons undertaken in Italian. In Year 8 and Year 9, Maths, Science, Humanities and Italian language will be taught in Italian with qualified and dedicated native speaking teachers. All other subjects are delivered in English.

You can find out all you need to know about the program, the selection criteria and how to go about applying for it via their website.

Robina State High School – Japanese Immersion

The Japanese immersion program offered at Robina State High School is the only Secondary Japanese Immersion Program in Australia. Students who are accepted into this program will study 50% of their curriculum in Japanese.

Students who wish to enrol in the program must meet the minimum required grades and be high achievers with a proven ability to cope in a challenging environment with an acceptance of high expectations. To apply you can visit their website.

Tingalpa State School – French Bilingual School

In 2015 Tingalpa State School introduced a French-Australian bilingual program. The program has grown and is now offered from Prep to Year 6. The French Bilingual Program has received accreditation with the French Ministry of Education for classes from Prep to Year 6, positioning Tingalpa as the first Queensland primary school with a fully accredited French Bilingual program.

As part of the program, students learn from both the French and Australian curricula with a ratio of instruction of:

Prep to Year 2 – 80% French instruction and 20% English instruction.
Years 3 and 4 – 60% French instruction and 40% English instruction.
Year 5 and 6 – 50%-50% French-English instruction, to accommodate the greater demands of the Australian curriculum.

Tingalpa State School works in partnership with Whites Hill State College to deliver a shared French-Australian bilingual program. This assist with the growth of the program and provides a secondary pathway for students to continue a French-Australian education.

You can find more information on their website

Wellers Hill State School – Japanese Bilingual Program

The Japanese Bilingual Program at Wellers Hill State School has a primary intent to not just teach Japanese but to improve a child’s learning ability through the development of additional neural pathways which research indicates can occur in children who commence the learning of a second language by eight years of age. It is expected that children who enrol in the program in Year 1 will be conversationally fluent in Japanese by Year 3 and technically fluent by the end of Year 5.

There is a limited selection process to ensure sufficient numbers to have the classes full and viable. Factors considered based on a child’s Prep year have included attendance patterns, behaviour, reading progress and the extent to which a child is self directed because of the need to move between rooms and change teachers during the day. You can find out more information on how the program was developed, its results so far and how you can apply here.

Whites Hill State College – French Bilingual Program (Primary & Secondary)

Located on a vibrant, leafy campus in Camp Hill, Whites Hill State College offers a unique French Bilingual Program developing bilingual fluency, academic achievement and intercultural understanding.

The program is delivered through a strong partnership between Tingalpa State School and Whites Hill State College, building on the successful bilingual model established at Tingalpa. Through ongoing collaboration, the two schools share expertise, resources and practice to support a seamless Prep–Year 9 pathway for students.

The program draws on a harmonised French and Australian curriculum, with learning delivered in both languages. AEFE accreditation currently extends from Prep to Year 3.

Whites Hill is the only Queensland state high school offering a French bilingual pathway in Years 7–9. Students study French Literacy, Humanities and an elective in French, alongside their remaining core subjects in English.

At the end of Year 9, students can undertake the DELF B1 or B2 examination, with opportunities from Year 10 to continue through an accelerated QCAA French and French Extension pathway, supporting future ATAR and university opportunities.