Based on proficiency levels, interests, schedules and goals, students may elect to take one or two courses during ninth grade. The Immersion Language Arts options include taking AP Language and Culture or Immersion Language Arts 9. For Immersion Social Studies, students may elect to take Immersion Civics and Human Geography, which covers their 9th grade Social Studies requirement.

AP Language & Culture and beyond AP courses in Immersion Language Arts are available through grade 12.

The Minnesota World Language Proficiency Certificate and Bilingual and Multilingual Seals were created as an official recognition by the state of Minnesota for proficiency in a language in addition to English. The certificate can be awarded as soon as a student demonstrates Intermediate-Low proficiency; however, the seals are only awarded upon high school graduation. Seals are added to the transcript of each high school graduate who meets the requirements and may also be added to diplomas.

Minnetonka Public Schools carefully tracks student proficiency test results to ensure students receive the appropriate designation.

Learn more about Bilingual Seals

As juniors and seniors, Immersion students may elect to take IB Language & Literature – Language A, Chinese or Spanish. Spanish students also have the opportunity to take IB Global Politics SL their junior or senior year.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Minnetonka High School is a two-year course of study encompassing six curriculum areas. Immersion students who choose to pursue the full Diploma Programme will be eligible for the Bilingual IB Diploma by completing two languages selected from Group 1 (IB Literature) with the award of 3 or higher in both OR by completing one Group 3 (IB Social Studies) subject in a language other than English.

Please visit www.minnetonkaschools.org/IB for more information and a course choice worksheet. Students interested in the full diploma program must express their interest through a brief online form (www.minnetonkaschools.org/IB) and meet with the MHS Advanced Learning Coordinator to discuss the two-year course options. Email Laura.Herbst@minnetonkaschools.org or telephone 952-401-5897.

In addition to year-long Immersion courses, there are also semester-long Immersion elective offerings in both the World Languages and Social Studies departments. These semester electives are open to immersion students in grades 9-12, and can be taken “a la carte” in any order or combination with other Immersion classes.

Immersion with VANTAGE. This is not an Immersion Course.

Within VANTAGE, while not an immersed course, students will have the opportunity
to occasionally apply their target language skills in Global Business. This course offers an opportunity for immersion students to utilize their language skills in the professional arena. Students may participate in small group discussions in the target language as well as a possible bilingual HR day, where they may have interviews and complete a resume in the target language. Pending the mentor and project pool year to year, there may also be opportunities to have bilingual mentors and complete projects utilizing their language skills.

Immersion students can also choose to study a third language in either American Sign Language, French, German or Spanish.

Immersion students grades 10-12 will have the opportunity to travel with the school-sponsored trip to Chile or China and complete a travel study project.

View Chinese Immersion Syllabi

View Spanish Immersion Syllabi