Views on Language Immersion Schools

Maybe in your neighborhood they are perceived as better, but not everywhere. I know two people who did the language immersion - one (Edina) that had to hire a tutor and catch their daughter up to normal school when they moved her over (she couldn't read well in English), and the other was an adopted son from South America in a Spanish Immersion. Better? I think it's just a personal choice. Don't let peer pressure send your kid to a language immersion class. I love neighborhood schools and have met SO MANY wonderful moms thru volunteering at our school. Kids make lifelong friends that way too - someone who goes to their school who they can hop on their bike or walk over to have some play time.

K.,
I will answer your frustrations from the point of view of a high school Spanish teacher. Yes, it should be that all kids have the possibility of learning a second/third language beginning in elementary school. That would certainly put us on a par with the rest of the world. Unfortunately, that is not realistic right now. Why? We don't have enough trained and qualified language teachers - in Spanish - let alone in lesser taught languages, such as Swedish. (Incidentally, I am also a Norwegian speaker - and am teaching my own children (4 and 2) both Norwegian and Spanish).

I am excited that more immersion programs are cropping up around the Twin Cities. I don't think they are "better" than traditional schools, they are just offering something that traditional schools are not; early language exposure. That said, there are many other ways to learn a language. Some people are able to gain high levels of fluency by just studying in the middle school/high school programs. The students who excel in that model will typically have had *some* kind of early language exposure - even if it's not in the same language they later study. I am teaching a free preschool Spanish class at my church right now. The kids have an amazing ability to mimic sounds at this age. Learning to mimic sounds in any language at an early age help to open up the LAD (language aqcuisition device) in the brain.

Finally, I understand that you would choose another language over Spanish. I have chosen Norwegian for my childrens' first exposure. It is our heritage language. They will, of course, also learn Spanish. Hopefully, they will also learn many other languages. I will probably be sending them to a school that has Mandarin Chinese beginning in kindergarten. The study of one language does not mean that one cannot learn any others! Again, it is just early exposure to SOME language that matters.

Best of luck to you in finding some exposure for your kids!
K.

I used to be a teacher before I stayed home with our kids. I've taught in public and private schools, including a spanish immersion school. I find it so disheartening that parents get so caught up in sending their children to a certain school because no matter where you go there are going to be pros and cons to all of them. Yes, it is good to learn spanish. I will not argue that, but our schools now days are lacking so many of the basics, like geography, social studies, music, etc. And what about RECESS????!!!! It is so hard to watch kids squirm all day because they just need to move their body more than 15 minutes in a school day. Kids learn a lot of good social skills at recess, away from adults constantly telling them how to deal with things. Anyways, I would be more concerned that your kids are getting a rounded education in a place that has good, consistent teachers
that want to be there. Believe me, there are a lot of lazy teachers out their who do what they can to just get by and those teachers might just teaching at those "fancy" immersion schools. Relax and enjoy these school years. I'm sure your kids are in a good place and will become wonderful adults.

If your kids love their school and you feel that it is a great learning environment for them, then what are you worried about? There are so many different education choices- private, homeschool, charter; hopefully everyone can find some thing that works for them and most importantly their child. My son is attending an immersion school, and I am happy with our choice. The language thing is not a big deal, its just school to him. I dont feel that his school is better than the other neighborhood schools, its just that he will learn another language and the young age is the perfect time to do that (think of what they pick up from Dora.) To me, its not the "quality" of education that you mentioned that is different, but just how learning more languages can have a strong effect on a childs learning.
in response to the comments made that this is just a passing phase, I dont agree. My sister in law went to one of the first German Immersion schools almost 30 years ago (her family was German.) I think alot of people are finding out about them now, but it is not a new concept.
And I think this area could embrace more languages, why not Swedish?

I hope nobody comes down on you too hard. You have valid points and are looking to make sense of it all. I personally don't think a foreign language should be forced. It would be nice to have foreign language options but the cost to privide teachers for that is too great. Spanish is the second most used language and I understand why they only seem to provide that in most public schools. Nothing worse than going to a McD and not understanding the person taking your order. It's frustrating. In America the primary language spoken is English not Spanish. Good English should be spoken especially when working with the general public. I agree with the previous poster on the standards thing. I personally do not like public schools and my kids will attend private school. I just don't agree with the no child left behind, everybody is a winner at sports, all the ADHD popping up. I heard if they get enough kids in special programs they get more funding. If you are happy with the public school I'm so glad that your lucky enough to have your assigned school be so great. Nothing wrong with either choice. Can you look into scholarships for the special language classes? If it's important to you that your child learns your native language I'd check around and see what you can do on your own. That will save money or having to ask for help. Quality is in the eye of the beholder so it's all just a matter of opinion and not all schools are the same. I understand that.

I go on both sides of the fence with this one. I liked the idea of my child being bilingual but I didn't know if I could forsee this a longterm schooling choice and felt once you go that route your kinda stuck that route. It might sound cute and fun in kindergarten but not be the right choice in 3rd grade then what do you do? Or if you move how do you find a similar school?I don't think Immersion school's are better just different.

We went with the choice of our public school down the street.(Dist.191) I am very unhappy with my daugther's public school to be honest though. All they concentrate on is Math/Reading they rotate gym,music,science and I don't believe they are doing much with social studies,health, geography,history I think they squeeze that in when they can. This year they took Art out. The one subject my child excels at and she truely loves and expresses herself through is art.

Everyone is in a rush for their children to learn Spanish because were letting it as a nation overplay ENGLISH. With all the foreigners and immigrants, illegals were sinking to their levels to their language instead of insisting they rise to our levels and use our language. It's like you almost have to know spanish these days to even figure things out in public places, and it's becoming more and more demanding to know spanish to get a good job. And we all know it's more and more difficult to learn a second language the older you are. It's much much easier for a 5 year old to learn versus a highschooler. I myself did horribly in Spanish @HighSchool almost failed. But dated a guy who spoke spanish and picked up on it so fast without a textbook. Another reason I think these school's are so hot is everyone is in this competative keeping up with the Jone's thing. They're kids have to be better, smarter, have cooler things, be involved in every extra curricular activity, sport, play a musical instrument, etc.

If I had my wish my choice I'd put my daughter in a Art magnet school. My daughter's artistic side is awesome, and is her passion. She would excel in a school like that. I know it. Unfortunately my school district sucks and we don't have charter schools, magnet schools, or language immersion school's around and I don't want to transport my child twice a day to another city. And moving isn't a option. And I beat myself on the head everday for not investigating our school's before I choose to move here years ago.

I'm also Swedish. My daughter get's Swedish from both of her maternal/paternal grandmothers and would love to have my daughter learn that language as well. We have a Swedish flag in our car LOL....

I totally see your frustrations.You want your child to be just as equal as everyone else's children or maybe better LOL but it's becoming an unfair playing ground. I've even thought of sending my child to a uppity private school like Breck or Blake of course using a scholarship because I'm a income challenged single mother but know my daughter wouldn't fit in there financially. We gladly take hand me downs and she won't be driving a BMW on her 16th Birthday.

I guess you just do what you feel is right for your children. If they're happy and your happy stick with it.

Bottom line though I do think alot of this is a need to keep up with the Jone's next door type of thing. Everyone is out to out do their neighbors these days.

I honestly think it's a bunch of crap. Kids need to learn English and social skills before they are learning other languages. So many kids have troubles these days dealing with life itself that I think we need to be concentrating on the more important things. I also think it's crazy to decide that a 5 year old needs to know other languages. Let them decide when they are older just like we got to. I didn't want to learn another language because I don't want to be a world traveler and when I go to Mexico I think I do just fine. I get upset with my kids' school for sending home everything with Spanish on the backside. They even sent home a Spanish Scholastic book order. We are never going to conquer the ESL problem if we are accomodating people that don't speak English. With all of the budget cuts and program cuts these days I really don't think we need to be spending all of this money on educating people that don't speak English.
Anyways, I'm ranting a little off topic :o)
I think it would be best to keep your kids where they are and worry about this when they are older and can decide for themselves.
Best Wishes,
J.

Amen is all I have to say.

This fall my oldest child started kindergarten. My husband and I wanted to send her to Spanish Immersion, because we thought it would be great for her to learn a second language while her little brain is still so pliable. But we debated on it for a long time. Then, when the lottery results came back, she didn't make it. She attends the public school in our neighborhood, and we're all quite pleased with how things are going so far.

Since school has started, I have had the opportunity to talk with some other moms whose kids do attend the immersion school, and I am so glad my child isn't there! They have told me details about how much homework their children have: 1-2 hours per night, and they are in 2nd grade!!! My daughter needs time to be a kid, not spend so much extra time out of school doing homework already.

As far as learning another language goes, our district is teaching about an hour of Spanish a week as part of the curriculum. So we're getting some of the benefits, without the excessive homework!

I have to agree with some of the other people who have posted, saying that kids need other subjects in addition to math and reading, and they definitely need recess and time outside. Kids' brains may be little sponges, but they also need a little time to relax and be kids and work off some healthy energy! I have plans to stay active in my childrens' education, and make sure they have access to lots of topics and down time. It sure feels like a lot of stress just to make sure our children get the kind of education they all deserve, but it will be worth it when they turn out to be smart, well-rounded, healthy adults.

I agree with your frustrations... I am all for multi-lingual learning, my own kids are learning a second language since their father's family still speaks AT HOME their own language. I also strongly agree with the anti-Spanish sentiment, I attended college in LA area and it was extremely frustrating for my to go into ANY place of business, and I, a clearly WHITE blonde amereican, was the one expected to speak spanish as opposed to the workers in an ENGLISH SPEAKING country learn english. Again, I am all for the learning multiple languages, but I am against this "accommodating because we are a 'melting pot'" attitude. I never thought that immersion schools were better, just that they could offer something extra that was difficult for my to provide myself =)

I've got to admit that I'm also torn on this issue. We live in Edina and have the choice between Highlands Elementary and the French Immersion School. I keep hearing universally flattering things about Highlands and want my children to have those experiences. Yet, I have also heard good things about the French Immersion school and I do believe that the best way for a child to really pick up a language is at a young age. My step dad was Scottish and born and raised in Argentina, so he was raised speaking two languages. By the end of his life, he was fluent in seven languages. Studies do show that children who learn multiples languages earlier open something up in their brains which allows them to assimilate other new languages quicker down the road. I studied German and Spanish in high school and college, but I have poor command of both languages. Ultimately, I think it is a personal decision. Your children will, I'm sure be fine, either way of schooling.

Maybe you should say where you live? I would like to send my daughter to the usual public school. But I live in Minneapolis. My mom works at a private high school and other teachers have tried sending their kids to public schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul. They say that the kids don't learn anything during the day, that the teachers are too busy dealing with naughty or troubled students, and so they end up teaching their own kids in the evenings. So I don't know for sure what I'll choose. My mom wants my daughter to go to a German immersion school which doesn't make a whole lot of sense since neither I nor my husband speak German. But we'll see.

I know I'm late on responding and you have so many responses so far. I'll just give my opinion. We would like to send our son to a language immersion school because I love languages. I have a degree in French, so I would love to speak with my son in French. Also, I went attended a typical school, although private, and the few kids I did know who had come from the language schools in the area were much more advanced and already taking higher level courses. That might be a coincidence, but maybe not.

I simply don't understand why you are so hung up on this, with all the other horrible stuff going on in the world. I presume no one is forcing your children to learn another language, so why do you care? If someone is making you feel as though you are an inferior parent because you aren't in an immersion school, then shame on them. It isn't any of their business. But on the other hand, I'm rather shocked that someone would be this upset about it. And as for it being "unfair" to make a child of five do something without having a choice, well, yeah, that's called parenting. Most five-year-olds don't have the cognitive skills to make choices that will affect their future.

Some parents want to encourage language development in their children, some want music or sports or science. The world needs all kinds. If this is the most stressing thing to you right now, I'd really like to exchange some of my stresses for that.

I think people perceive them as better only because they are different. The only difference is that the kids learn a 2nd language. I think the cirriculum is pretty identitcal with the exception of everything is in Spanish. How you view these schools will highly be run by how important you value your kids learning a 2nd language. Schools are doing Spanish because that language is the fastest growing language in the U.S. (from what I understand). Teaching 2nd languages is great for kids and they retain more when you start young which is the value in these programs. I personally won't be sending my kids to it. 2nd languages are nice but not a necessity and I want to be able to help my kids in school as much as I can. Since I don't know spanish I think that would be incredibly difficult. Just take a deep breath and remember that your kids will not be any less intelligent because they didn't go to immersion school. That and if they truly want to learn spanish they can take it in junior high/high school (it's not like this is their one and only chance.).

I don't have personal experience with this but a friend of mine is German and she sends her two boys to a German Emersion school in St. Paul. I think her main reason is because she wants them to continue to learn in German, their native language, and english. I've been amazed at the popularity in this new type of school. I think, this too, will pass.

I'm very frustrated with all the school choices as well. Immersion isn't even an option for us. There is no way we can afford it. Plus since everyone else in the world is learning English, my kids aren't going to be that far behind when they take languages later in their school career. Sure they'll learn it faster now, sure they'll pick up other languages faster if they choose to learn a 3rd or 4th, but I guess this is one more way that I as a parent am screwing up my kids lives. We can't afford immersion school or paying for classes outside of school.

As far as better...I don't know about that. A couple of the kids I know cried everyday all day for a week and are still unhappy. It might have happened in regular school, but it doesn't help when you can't understand the teacher when she tells you it will be okay.

My frustration comes when my little guy will be going to the largest school in the district and I worry about him getting lost and forgotten. I came from a school of 120 in my whole graduating class. Not ready for the big towns with the big classes.

Frankly, I am embarassed by the United States and our "head in the sand" attitude that English is enough for our kids. Go to any other developed country in the world (and even most undeveloped countries) and kids are learning their native language and at least one (often more) foreign languages from an early age. Our school system is so behind. I don't agree that immersion schools are the way to go, however. I believe that every elementary school should be funded to provide foreign language instruction to ALL kids. An immersion school might still be a good option for some kids who want a more intensive experience (just like some want a more intensive art experience or science experience or other) but it is not the right setting for all children. I think the best thing any parent can do is find the school that best fits your child (I think we are fortunate to have so many choices). I had always thought that sending my son to immersion school (either Chinese or Spanish) would be best for him. However, I know now that it is probably not the best right now and I am widening my search to find a school that provides the best environment for his needs.

One poster mentioned physical activities being cut. It is serious problem and speaks to our overall lack of proper funding for schools. The thing that frustrates me with cutting phys.ed. and recess is that kids learn better when they get a chance to run around (especially in the younger grades). So we cut phys.ed. and then find kids having more trouble learning and focussing so then we need more classroom time to help them "keep up" to the standards and so we cut more phys.ed. and recess and down the slippery slope we go.

I agree with the poster that says there are all sorts of different schools out there, and it is up to you as a parent to decide what is important to you in a school. If you are happy where you are, great!

Now, as to the question about why people might choose an immersion school -- tons of research out there shows that the earlier you can start a child in a foreign language, the easier it is for them to master it. Immersion is the best way to teach because it is simply the most effective way to learn. So if foreign language is important to you (vs. art or music or proximity to your house), this is a great opportunity.

Why Spanish vs. another language? Because I think it is one of the most practical languages in our society right now. I was a French major in college, but I am going to send my son to a Spanish immersion school because I figure he will have more opportunities to apply it. If he was older, I'd let him choose the language himself. But since he's too young to decide, I figure this is the languague he's the most likely to find a use for. Chinese, Somali and Hmong would also be good choices from a practical standpoint. Of course, if you have personal ties to another culture, than that language would be a good choice!

Regardless of the direct application, being able to speak any foreign language is an incredibly valuable skill because it introduces children to other cultures and ways of relating to others and has also been proven to make learning math, music and subsequent languages easier.

Finally, As far as the comment that someone made about the "illegals" -- come on! It is embarassing to me as an American that so many of us think that our culture (and language) is the only legitimate one! We live in an increasingly global society, and we need to learn to live and work together. Just as we are falling behind in other critical areas (e.g., math) we are also one of the only industrialized countries in the world where we only truly teach one language in our schools.

I would love to make immersion mandatory in all of our public schools, but I am also realistic and know that there are lots of competing needs with very few resources. You just have to prioritize according to your values. Luckily in the Twin Cities we have lots of choices and if we are flexible about location, there should be a quality public school out there for everyone.

I am sorry that I even posted yesterday. The response was fairly negative. Like other moms, I am just looking for the best options out there for my children. It is unfortunate that we can't all just support each other in whatever choices we make.

Where is this coming from? If you are happy with your choice, why does it matter if some need to send there child to an immersion school. I don't know what all the hype is about. I think it is just something new to try. I don't think it is better, it is just a different way to get an education. I think the frustration falls in the need for some to be the first to do something different. That is there deal. Why are you wrapped up in it?

I really wanted to send my boys to an immersion school - however, not any in our area and the one's i did contact can't even accomodate everyone in their district that wants to attend.
myself, it was to give my kids the opportunity to learn another language and hopefully open more doors for them in the future. once they hit around 5th grade they are fluent in spanish and when they go to high school than they would be better prepared to take a 3rd language.
I think it's silly for us (americans) to think our language is the only language. when i was in high school i was involved in the AFS club (exchange students) - every one of those kids that came to study at my high school knew 3 - 5 or more languages. would open more doors and opportunities for them wouldn't it?
I wish they would teach at least spanish in the elementary schools as a necessary part of the curriculum, but they are not yet. I think spanish is probably one of the easier languages for kids to learn (or anybody).
and as far as i know, the emmersion schools are public schools so they are not an extra cost to the parents, they're just hard to get into.
i'd keep going, but i've got to run...
I am for immersion schools, however, I agree every child should have the opportunity to learn a language without having to take and 'extra' course outside of school.