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SALT LAKE CITY — Even though the dual immersion language program is growing in Utah, some myths and misconceptions remain.
One myth about dual immersion schools is that they cost teachers jobs. Davis School District secondary world languages supervisor, Bonnie Flint, says no one has ever lost a job over this program in the entire state of Utah.
"Typically in Davis School District -- and we have about 60 elementary schools -- the attrition rate is about three to five teachers per school. We are only hiring about one new teacher a year as the program grows up a grade each year," she said.
Flint says others believe students who are studying another language half the day fall behind in test scores.
"We track them from the beginning of the school year to the end. We track them from kindergarten on. Every year, every test they either meet or exceed their peers," she said.
Flint also says the program doesn't cost any extra money.
"Whether the teacher is speaking in French or English or Chinese, their salary is exactly the same. It doesn't cost more for a teacher to be speaking in Chinese than it does in English," she said.
This fall, about 14,000 students are enrolled in dual immersion programs across Utah.
