Would you consider an immersion program?

[sheila]

I saw this article and wondered about it. While I think it is great that these kids are going to be so fluent in another language, it would feel very strange not to be able to help my kids with homework at all.

San Fran kindergartners immersed in Chinese
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/images/06/13/story.stretch.cnn.jpgAngelica Chang teaches Mandarin Chinese to kindergartners at the Starr King Elementary School.


Every kid knows that feeling of the last day of school. It feels so liberating to know there won't be any classes on Monday. But for the kids I met at Starr King Elementary School in San Francisco, it was mostly sadness.

The children I met, all kindergartners, had just finished an entire year learning Mandarin Chinese, and they were sad it was over. The class was a year-long immersion course. The teacher spoke only Chinese to her students. That's it. All of the kids' normal subjects, like math and science, were taught in Chinese. Imagine how difficult that would be since none of the 26 children had ever before spoken Mandarin, considered one of the more difficult languages to learn. (For one hour a day, they worked on their English skills with a different teacher.)

Immersion courses operate on the premise of osmosis: eventually the child will get it. And the children I saw seemed to get it. (Watch these American kids speak Mandarin Chinese (javascript:cnnVideo('play','/video/bestoftv/2007/06/13/kindergarten.mandarin.experiment.cnn','2009/06/12');))

It was astounding to walk into a classroom full of American five-year-olds communicating in Chinese. They seemed to have little problem understanding their teacher. They also spoke in Chinese to each other. And during their free time, they even read children's books written exclusively in Chinese.

Parents we spoke to said they enrolled their kids in the program to give them a "leg up" for the future. Some of the children are of Chinese descent, but come from English-speaking families. The district said it offered the immersion program course because of China's growing status in the world.

As the children said goodbye to each other and their teacher, there were a lot of tears. Even though they're only kindergartners, these kids and their teacher seemed to forge a special bond over the course of the year. However, this is only the beginning of their Mandarin education. Next year, as first-graders, they'll be back for another year of classes taught in Chinese.
link (http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog/2007/06/san-fran-kindergartners-immersed-in.html)

[TtownAnne]

I think there's something a little creepy about worrying about a "leg up" in kindergarten. I realize that's the age you are supposed to teach languages, but I think complete immersion is a bit extreme.

[magoo]

I plan to have my kids in French Immersion. Here, it starts in grade one. I speak French (I was in immersion from Grade 5 and receieved a French endorsement on my high school diploma) so I have no concerns about helping them with their homework.

It is becoming really popular here. There is one school in my town that offers French Immersion. They ahve 2 classes of 20 filled, 13 on a waiting list, and only 16 enrolled in the regular English program.

[Girlo]

I think it sounds really cool! :aok: I think learning another language is a fantastic way to become more of a 'global' citizen and have more options open to you later in life, and learning so young is the best way to start.

We don't have anything like that here, unfortunately. There is a school in Bellevue that does this, but it's VERY expensive and would take us about 2 hours each way to get there......so NOT an option. :lol:

The concern I would have, though, is that neither Paul or I are fluent in another language....so how would they practice their new skills? We both know some of other languages, but neither of us are fluent in anything but English. It seems like it would get lost is not used daily, KWIM?

[Karri]

I think its a wonderful thing *if* the parent speaks the language. We have some very wonderful immersion schools here: spanish, german, chinese, and french. However, one of my very good friends put her daughter in the german one in k-4. She's now in 1st grade and they're pulling her out. Her daughter was beyond frustrated that mom & dad could not help her with her homework and she was lagging behind in some very basic english, which is normal in an immersion program, but it bothered her parents.

[Hannabanana]

We missed the opportunity for putting Hanna in French immersion. It's either SK or grade 4.

I mentioned it in JK but dh didn't think that it would be a good idea ... we don't speak french/aren't fluent so how could we possibly help her with homework??

My thought was that we could hire someone to tutor her if she falls behind -- I look at the job postings and a french/english bilingual person has a much greater opportunity for employment here and I want her to have that opportunity.

We'll think about it again when she goes into grade 3 to make the decision for 4.

[valeria73]

I think it sounds really cool! :aok: I think learning another language is a fantastic way to become more of a 'global' citizen and have more options open to you later in life, and learning so young is the best way to start.

This is how I feel. The elementary school that Rowan is scheduled to attend (5 years from now! :lol: who knows where we'll be then?!) has a French immersion program, and I am really psyched about it. I have to admit, though, that I would only be cool with a language that I speak (i.e., Spanish or French), even if only half-assedly. :)

[Melissa]

I know this is off topic, but if it works to teach these children Chinese like this, why do we have English as a Second language classes and not just throw those students who enter school not knowing English into regular classes, just like these kids are?

But anyway, I do think the concept is very interesting. I don't think I'd have my child do a whole day of this though.

[EricaW]

My little sister did a Spanish immersion program and now speaks fluent Spanish. I don't remember her being frustrated with homework and such (my parents don't speak Spanish). There was a point though where she did speak better Spanish than English, around 3rd grade or so, but her English caught up. I think it was a great program and wish it was around when I could have taken advatage of it. The Spanish she learned has helped in life many times.

[Shel]

Where's Lisa? I know Cassie was in a French school and I don't think Lisa spoke French?

[schwanda]

My husband attended Hebrew Day School until high school. They had half of the day conducted solely in Hebrew and the other half in English. Obviously it was religious school so that was part of it. I think it was a good experience for him.
We've talked about having the kids in a bilingual school. The only one I know of near us is the French Lycee. I'm not sure I'm willing to spend that much money when the public schools in our area are so outstanding.

Amanda

[MrsPeacefrog]

I don't know if I like the idea of such little time being spent on their primary language of English. I don't know if 1 hour a day is enough :dunno:

But I am not overall against the idea. I grew up in an Italian family and when I was in kindergarten my parents took me out of school for 3 months and we went to Italy, I came back speaking fluent Italian, so I know how a child at that age can absorb a language. In saying that I also know that I was able to learn another language a bit later in life, although harder, not anywhere near impossible.

I would hate to think my childs english would suffer, I think children these days are having enough problems with grammar and coming out of school with proper english speaking/reading/writing skills as it is.

I don't know, I guess as I have not seen this before I would have to really see the effects on the child before totally making a decision on it.

[Girlo]

You know, if there were a program through the public schools around here, I'd seriously consider putting Alex in it. Even if he loses some fluency later on, hopefully it'd be like riding a bike to pick it back up later on.

I say this because my mom did it back asswards in this respect. :rolleyes: When I was about 10, she asked me if I wanted to learn Italian (she speaks fluent Italian, Norwegian, and some of other related languages). Of course, by then I was opening the door of teen rebellion and starting to be of the mind that your parents are dumb as sticks. Plus, add to that our personal relationship being in the toilet and I wanted NOTHING that she had to offer me and I said no. :(
She tried anyway and her way of teaching was classroom basics instead of an immersion philosophy. NOT going to work. If she would have just talked to me when I was a baby and kept going, who knows where I would be now with it!

[Alysia]

I googled immersion schools for Seattle and apparently the Seattle school district does offer them in some of their elementary schools including doing English immersion for students who don't speak English. It sounds pretty cool to me. Of course we are out in the suburbs and they dont offer that out here. I;ll be back with a link... Genavieve just took off with my mouse


ETA here is the link to the article

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/291871_international10.html

[magoo]

I know this is off topic, but if it works to teach these children Chinese like this, why do we have English as a Second language classes and not just throw those students who enter school not knowing English into regular classes, just like these kids are?
Probably because if they come here when they are 8, and they're with kids who have been speaking English for 8 years, they'll have to work really hard to catch up. When I started FI, we were all in the same boat - Anglophones with 4 years of core French (me just 2 since Saskatchewan didn't have core French in elementary school). The teacher spoke v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y at first and repeated herself a lot. :lol: It's not like we were put into a class of Francophones.

[Clare]

Where's Lisa? I know Cassie was in a French school and I don't think Lisa spoke French?

:nod: I believe that Paige is in a French school now.

I only think this is a good idea if the parent also speaks the language. And if it's relevant. I understand a French immersion school in Canada, but how many San Franciscan children are going to need to be fluent in Mandarin :dunno:

Yesterday I was on parent roster in Harry's kindergarten classroom, and I was witness to their Italian lesson. I was amazed that with only 30 minutes of Italian instruction a week, the majority of them spoke Italian very well. They sang about 4 songs, could name all the parts of their body, name just about every animal etc. I think that knowledge is fine for my kids for now.

[LISA]

Where's Lisa? I know Cassie was in a French school and I don't think Lisa spoke French?

Yep, Cass went to an all french daycare/elementary school and is almost done an all french ( non was immersion) high school and Paige is on the same path..I did contemplate taking her out but I think we'll stick it out..yes we had a bit of difficulty with some homework but we alway's managed to get her some help :) You would think that after all this french I would have picked it up myself :blush: