What is FLES?

FLES is an acronym for foreign language in the elementary school. LCPS Spanish FLES program currently provides instruction to students in grades 1-5.

The goals of the FLES program are to capture children's ability to learn a second language at an early age, to encourage awareness of cultural differences at an early age, to afford students the opportunity to participate in a global society, and to provide increased readiness for secondary foreign language study.  These goals are grounded on the following principles: 

• Children acquire language naturally and can readily learn a second language if the environment for the second language is similar to that of the native language environment.

• Children understand the concept of culture through comparisons of cultures studied with their own.

• Children reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through second language acquisition.