Does anyone have their kids enrolled in any kind of dual immersion program for language? I am about to register my three for kinder and there is a dual english/spanish class that goes from kinder thru 5th grade. I have lots of concerns and questions but wanted to see if anyone out there has done it with their trio or singleton. Of course the district thinks this would be fabulous with three being able to practice and speak together at home but I just have lots of questions and it is a new program to our district (started last year).

Thanks!
Joy
Mom to GBG's born 1.30.05 at 31.4 weeks and their big sister.



http://theweebles.blogspot.com/

Hi,

We have our three eight-year-olds at a French immersion school.

They have been there since kindergarten and are now finishing second grade. They understand French (spoken and written) and read French and speak some, but spoken is weakest. They NEVER speak French at home except as a joke to scold each other (hummm, what does THAT tell you?). And they differ in French abilities. Their French does sound pretty good.

One thing the school warned us about is that English reading ability might lag a bit. We have not found that to be true, but apparently the test scores of the school as a whole for 3rd grade show this.

What will happen after 5th grade for your kids? Is it the whole school that is Spanish immersion or is the program within a larger English-speaking school?

One thing I like about the school is that it is diverse - lots of Africans, Caribbean French speakers, Canadians, and Europeans, as teachers, administrators, parents, nurses, lunch ladies, librarian, specialists, and students.

Best Wishes,

Nancy

mom to beautiful BBG triplets, born February 2002 at 33 wks, 4 days

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Do the kids who go through "normal" classes get exposed to another language? Or is it all or nothing?

I attended a Catholic school that started teaching Spanish in 2nd grade as a SMALL portion of each school day, just like any other subject. By the time I was in middle school, I could write nearly fluently and speak conversationally. I think exposing them to the language at a young age is the key, not necessarily immersing them into it.

And anyway... who needs a fluent 8-year-old? KWIM? LOL Unless you plan on using them as your translator if you're traveling abroad

Loren
GGG Jan.2005 @ 28wks

Sweetened Taters - http://sweetenedtaters.blogspot.com

My two older are in a German immersion program. While they already learned German at home, it is amazing that most of their classmates, who have not been exposed to the language prior to school, are capable of holding entire conversations in the new language at the end of Kindergarten.

Once you learn one foreign language, the next one is tons easier to learn and so on. And of course for kids, learning something complicated like a new language is actually a piece of cake.

Test scores at our school show that English reading skills are pretty high up there, not lagging behind non-immersion schools. But we do have great language arts teachers.

Best of luck with your decision.
Petra
DS 08/02
DD 05/04
BBG 05/09 32.1 weeks

As the expatriate mom of bilingual kids, this topic interests me. I think kids are so lucky to become truly bilingual (trilingual...). Being able to speak flawless Spanish, etc., while also being able to read and write, are great skills to get before they realize that it is something 'hard'.
I have a friend who sent her children to a French immersion school in the US- they loved it and didn't have any problem with English literacy skills.
One thing that I would question is the kids practicing at home, my kids speak Japanese to each other, my friend's kids speak English to each other. If the kids already have established relationships in English, then switching over to Spanish might not happen- unless they want to talk about someone in front of them
Good luck making your choice. I think it is quite exciting.

"

Our dd at the young age of 2 attends a French immersion nursery school. For us this is because of two reasons. First we think it's great for kids to learn a second language, and they acquire it really easily when they are very young. Second, my husband's job requires us to move every one-five years, frequently internationally (so far Paris, London, and Dubai). We already have his next assignment which is Los Angeles, but his assignment after that will be international and likely Paris. So, we plan to send the kids to a private French elementary school b/c they will need the skill of having a second language and if we end up moving to somewhere besides Paris, we can put them in the French school there as all the French schools acredited by French Education Ministry follow roughly the same curriculum and scope/sequence.

Anyway, my dd has been attending the French school for six months now and has picked it up quite quickly. Having travelled extensively, I can say that a foreign language comes in handy everywhere. I speak four languages myself (English, Mandarin, German, and Russian) and I'm learning French along with my daughter. Even if I'm in a country where I do not know the language, I can usually easily find someone who has a language in common with me to ask directions or get information from. I think its an invaluable skill and once you learn one or two foreign langauges, it's really easy to pick up more. If your kids go to this program, they will be speaking Spanish close to fluently by 5th grade, and then would likely learn a third language in middle school/high school, and could go on to learn a fourth in college...not that they would have to but they would have the opportunity to. Of course even knowing one foreign language is a great resume booster as well.

I don't see any way it could hurt your kids in kindergarten, and if things don't go well you could always place them out of the program for grade 1.

I think where I am having issue it is basically all or nothing and the other "regular" classes are not exposed to the second language at all. You commit to seeing it through kinder-5th grade but then there is no clear explanation as to what happens when they hit middle school. It also leaves me no room to seperate the kids if that ever becomes an issue down the road. I could seperate 2-1 but never all three. For now it's a non issue but I don't like not having that option if need be.

I guess I have concerns since the program just started this year. Parents whose kids are involved seem happy but do have concerns their kids English reading is behind (which is to be expected). I have also spoke to parents from other schools whose children are in upper grades who say their kids never speak the second language at home only at school where it is required. I think it would be a great gift to be bilingual. We live in TX and have a large spanish speaking population but I am just so leary about the program. To throw another issue into the mix my oldest daughter has just been diagnosed as dyslexic and I worry had she been in a similar program that we might have just chalked up to being behind because of the program not because of a learning disability.

Tough decisions. Thanks you all for all your input and sharing your experiences. Still undecided but have lots to think about.
Joy
Mom to GBG's born 1.30.05 at 31.4 weeks and their big sister.



http://theweebles.blogspot.com/

You should speak to the principal or the curriculum specialist in the school if you have questions on how the immersion program is implemented. At my dds school, they have 2 language arts classes (one in English and the other in Spanish), Math is taught in English, Social Studies/Science in Spanish. The program stops at 5th grade. My dds can read and comprehend Spanish at about a 2nd grade level (they are in 3rd grade). They don't practice speaking it much because they prefer speaking English; however, they speak it without an accent and can communicate in Spanish when they have to. For instance, when someone asks them a question in Spanish, they usually understand them and can respond. My dds do sometimes struggle with their Spanish work, but on the other hand, their English work is a breeze for them. I consider it enrichment for my dds. I grew up bilingual, so I wanted to my dds to have the opportunity to learn a second language at an early age. GL! -- Gloria

Thanks Gloria. I am planning to do a little more research and talk to the principal about my questions and concerns. I wish I was bilingual and I think it is such a neat opportunity. My other worry is not being able to help them with their spanish work but we will see.
Joy
Mom to GBG's born 1.30.05 at 31.4 weeks and their big sister.



http://theweebles.blogspot.com/

You should ask the principal how your kids will be graded in the Spanish subject(s). I know up until 2nd grade, my dds would only get letter grades for Spanish language arts. As I mentioned my dds still struggle sometimes with their Spanish school work, but the teachers at my dds' school take into account effort and their Spanish progress when determining grades. There are just so many way that districts implement the program. Some districts do language of the day, others may only teach one or two subjects in Spanish, etc. I know it's not an easy decision for most parents to make. GL whatever you decide. -- Gloria

It's really too bad that kids have to commit to fifth grade! There really isn't a good way to predict how a five-year-old will do for the next six years! It should be based on the child, and if the child is not benefitting from the bilingual program, then he/she should be able to switch out.