What describes the Submersion Program in language education?

The Submersion Program in language education is characterized by the "sink or swim" approach. This method typically involves placing students who are non-native speakers directly into mainstream classrooms where the language of instruction is English, without significant support in their native language or additional language assistance. The expectation is that students will either learn the language through immersion in the environment or struggle to keep up with the academic content.

This contrast with other models of language education, such as personalized instruction, structured learning for gradual acquisition, or integration of cultural lessons, which provide more support and guidance tailored to the learners' needs. In a submersion context, there is less emphasis on accommodating language development systematically, which is why it adopts this "sink or swim" mentality.