Lottery for K for immersion school

[Anonymous]

I have always wanted my son to speak French, since I speak it and his grandfather is French. We have tried the lottery for Stokes for 2 years now with no luck, is it Kindergarten too late for him to start learning French? i can help him at home. I'm debating whether I should do the lottery this year for Stokes.

[Anonymous]

Not too late. I know 2 or 3 kids who didn’t start in a Spanish program until K and they did fine with parent knowing only a little Spanish.

[Anonymous]

K is fine. My kid has been in an immersion school since PK3 but didn't really start learning until K. So I guess Stokes EE doesn't work locationwise? Because I think you would have been in by now...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:K is fine. My kid has been in an immersion school since PK3 but didn't really start learning until K. So I guess Stokes EE doesn't work locationwise? Because I think you would have been in by now...

+1. If you can do Stokes EE there is a shot to transfer to Brookland.

[Anonymous]

My kid started at K at Stokes. Also there are a couple of French privates too.

[Anonymous]

If you speak French why haven’t you been talking to your kid in French this whole time? Do you understand anything about raising a bilingual child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you speak French why haven’t you been talking to your kid in French this whole time? Do you understand anything about raising a bilingual child?

Eye roll. You must know everything.

And the answer is no, i don't know anything I'm basically trying to survive as a parent and not kill myself. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:K is fine. My kid has been in an immersion school since PK3 but didn't really start learning until K. So I guess Stokes EE doesn't work locationwise? Because I think you would have been in by now...

+1. If you can do Stokes EE there is a shot to transfer to Brookland.

Thanks for reassurance. I have considered EE, but the commute without a car and going to the office is very tough. I live close by to the Brookland location. But maybe I should consider it and move to a closer place now that my lease is up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you speak French why haven’t you been talking to your kid in French this whole time? Do you understand anything about raising a bilingual child?

If you knew anything about bilingualism, you would know that there is not a single definition, there are many pathways, and there are many endpoints. Where you end up on the bilingualism spectrum depends on your family priorities, resources, etc. So stop gatekeeping.

OP, I think you need to decide whether this is a priority for you and your family and if yes, figure out what you can invest. If it's important to you, start speaking French to your child (reading books), replace any English screen time with French screen time, and consider rearranging your life to make Stokes EE work if you get in. There is no "right" way to do bilingualism, but you do want to make sure you're putting in the effort that is commensurate with your goals (or adjust your goals).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you speak French why haven’t you been talking to your kid in French this whole time? Do you understand anything about raising a bilingual child?

If you knew anything about bilingualism, you would know that there is not a single definition, there are many pathways, and there are many endpoints. Where you end up on the bilingualism spectrum depends on your family priorities, resources, etc. So stop gatekeeping.

OP, I think you need to decide whether this is a priority for you and your family and if yes, figure out what you can invest. If it's important to you, start speaking French to your child (reading books), replace any English screen time with French screen time, and consider rearranging your life to make Stokes EE work if you get in. There is no "right" way to do bilingualism, but you do want to make sure you're putting in the effort that is commensurate with your goals (or adjust your goals).

It’s clearly not a priority for the OP as they haven’t been speaking to their kid in French.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you speak French why haven’t you been talking to your kid in French this whole time? Do you understand anything about raising a bilingual child?

If you knew anything about bilingualism, you would know that there is not a single definition, there are many pathways, and there are many endpoints. Where you end up on the bilingualism spectrum depends on your family priorities, resources, etc. So stop gatekeeping.

OP, I think you need to decide whether this is a priority for you and your family and if yes, figure out what you can invest. If it's important to you, start speaking French to your child (reading books), replace any English screen time with French screen time, and consider rearranging your life to make Stokes EE work if you get in. There is no "right" way to do bilingualism, but you do want to make sure you're putting in the effort that is commensurate with your goals (or adjust your goals).

It’s clearly not a priority for the OP as they haven’t been speaking to their kid in French.

+1. Seems clear OP won’t be able to support much at home if she’s overextended already. Stokes won’t teach enough French to make it worth the inconvenience and sacrifice, IMO, unless OP is content with lower level receptive language skills and limited spoken language. Totally her choice if it’s worth it or not to her.

[Anonymous]

so much ennui about le post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so much ennui about le post

[Anonymous]

I love how people are super judgy and love to be make assumptions. It's ok if you haven't talk to your son in French.

OP, your kid would be fine at Stokes in K. The chances into getting in are slim, bit good luck!

He won't be fluent or bilingual like many of the kids that go to the other Spanish speaking schools, but he will be exposed to the language, which it what it seems that you'd like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love how people are super judgy and love to be make assumptions. It's ok if you haven't talk to your son in French.

OP, your kid would be fine at Stokes in K. The chances into getting in are slim, bit good luck!

He won't be fluent or bilingual like many of the kids that go to the other Spanish speaking schools, but he will be exposed to the language, which it what it seems that you'd like.

It's not judgment, it's that posts like these: (1) underestimate the effort needed to get an English dominant child functionally conversational and biliterate; and (2) ignore or are unaware of the trade offs that come with having your child learn HALF of their foundational primary education in a language they don't know or are not comfortable in. If you want exposure, then TALK to your kid or switch Netflix to the target language. If you're certain your child is above grade level and needs the challenge, then put them in school in a second language. But many, many kids in the immersion schools tune out most of what's being taught in the target language. Especially after COVID learning loss, that's a big deal. Parents in this city take immersion far too lightly and it's not always a net positive for their children. But you'll never convince parents that feel like they won the lottery of that.