HOUSTON -- Children are breaking the language barrier as early as elementary school, KPRC Local 2, Your Education Station, reported Friday.

Reading and writing in Spanish now comes naturally to students at Helms Community Learning Center.

"At this market, they were speaking Spanish. They didn't know I spoke Spanish, so I just talked back to them. They looked all surprised with their mouths wide open," fifth-grader Justin Carmouche said.

Students are fully immersed in the dual-language program -- a strong form of bilingual education established through a partnership with the University of St. Thomas.

"Program that seeks to maintain the native language as well as develop English skills," professor Higinia Rimbau said.

Students are exposed to language skills as early as pre-kindergarten and continue through high school.

"The best time to start a second language is when the children barely developed their first language skills," Rimbau said.

The concept is that both English- and Spanish-speaking children learn together.

When students complete the dual-language program at Helms, they receive a certificate from the Embassy of Spain. When they complete the program in high school, they become eligible to attend any university in Europe.

"The language becomes secondary … becomes so innate in them. It's not that it's taught. It's a miracle," second-grade teacher Luzmarie Alvarez said.

Fifth-grade student Eleanor-Day Kormberg said developing Spanish skills early in life will help her reach future goals.

"I can talk to more people and translate for people. It will help me when I want to get a job," she said.

She said Spanish is not her final language.

"In middle school, I'm hoping to learn Latin and Chinese later in high school," Kormberg said.

For more information, visit www.helmsduallanguage.org.