Potomac ES Chinese immersion

[Anonymous]

A few questions…

Does anyone know how likely it is to get into the immersion program (in kindergarten) if you’re within boundaries?

If your kid drops out of the immersion program at some point but stays at the school, what does that mean? Will they take totally different classes? Will they have to make new friends? Or is the immersion program integrated within the regular school for the non-Chinese classes?

Do they have an option to take another language (e.g. French, Spanish?) on a non-immersion basis or are those not offered since Chinese is already covered?

What percent of the class in kindergarten is native speakers? Any insight on how effective the Chinese instruction is for kids of non-native parents?

- signed, American-born Chinese parent who isn’t fluent

[Anonymous]

If you drop out of immersion, you will be in a different class. Immersion is only half day at Potomac. Kids do math and science in Chinese and reading, social studies and specials in English. They may make a few new friends if they are not in immersion. Kids stay with their class for half the day.

There are usually 2 Chinese classes in each grade with about 25 kids in each class. Teacher teaches one class in the morning and the other class in the afternoon. There is one teacher for each grade.

What they learn is very basic. It’s about 60% Chinese but some also do not speak the language at home. It’s also done through repetition and songs. Don’t worry if you do not speak any Chinese. My kids did not and they did fine.

There is only one immersion program in each school. There is no French or Spanish at Potomac. Only Chinese.

It’s a nice program. They have a fun Chinese new year celebration and do dinner and a program with singing and some dancing. It’s done well but keep your expectations very low. They will learn a lot more of the language in MS. By HS, the sad part is most non native speakers drop. Very few non native speakers earn the bilingual award. Most that take AP and score 4s and 5s are mostly native speakers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you drop out of immersion, you will be in a different class. Immersion is only half day at Potomac. Kids do math and science in Chinese and reading, social studies and specials in English. They may make a few new friends if they are not in immersion. Kids stay with their class for half the day.

There are usually 2 Chinese classes in each grade with about 25 kids in each class. Teacher teaches one class in the morning and the other class in the afternoon. There is one teacher for each grade.

What they learn is very basic. It’s about 60% Chinese but some also do not speak the language at home. It’s also done through repetition and songs. Don’t worry if you do not speak any Chinese. My kids did not and they did fine.

There is only one immersion program in each school. There is no French or Spanish at Potomac. Only Chinese.

It’s a nice program. They have a fun Chinese new year celebration and do dinner and a program with singing and some dancing. It’s done well but keep your expectations very low. They will learn a lot more of the language in MS. By HS, the sad part is most non native speakers drop. Very few non native speakers earn the bilingual award. Most that take AP and score 4s and 5s are mostly native speakers.

Thank you wow 25 kids, even for K? Is that bigger than the non-Chinese classes?

Interesting that science is in Chinese. Does that mean kids don’t know the English words of science concepts, or is it a mix of Chinese and English?

[Anonymous]

All immersion class sizes are large. They all start at 25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All immersion class sizes are large. They all start at 25.

Yes, ours may even approach 30. I can’t remember exactly, I think for Valentine’s Day and Halloween parties I was putting together upwards of 27-30 goody bags. There is also an aide sometimes who is here for 2 years to help. They are usually an exchange student from universities in China. They are wonderful.

It is a nice program. The kids at this age learn to say their name, how many brothers and sisters they have. Where the were born and where they live. Very basic conversation. Don’t expect too much.

[Anonymous]

The immersion program is a nice concept, introducing language to kids at a young age, especially Chinese which is a very tonal language. The high and low tones are very important and easier to learn at a young age. The unfortunate part is, MCPS doesn’t really care about the kids in the immersion program. Most kids drop by MS and most kids in HS are native speakers. There is a lot of emphasis in HS for the students to earn 4s and 5s on the AP exams. The teacher favors native speaker who will score the 4s and 5s. The school administrators don’t really care because it is an elective and let the teachers go rogue and do whatever they want. Most kids get discouraged and drop after 9th grade. Very disappointing program. In elementary school, it is a fun program and I wish more kids were encouraged to continue in HS. It could be a great opportunity if done correctly and in a more positive manner.

[Anonymous]

The kids will learn all science concepts with English terminology. They will learn the English terminology for water cycle, evaporation, condensation, etc. They do not learn the terminology in Chinese. They explain the concepts in Chinese. They will learn everything they need and will not fall behind because of the Chinese It is a very nice program and done well in elementary school.

In MS, it is a language class and not immersion. it’s about 75% native speakers and by HS it’s about 95% native speakers.

[Anonymous]

What do you by mean native speakers for kids? Are those kids American born but they have Chinese speaking parents at home speaking to them in Chinese at home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you by mean native speakers for kids? Are those kids American born but they have Chinese speaking parents at home speaking to them in Chinese at home?

Many native speakers at W schools are from China, and they primarily speak Chinese at home with their parents. But there are also kids who are born here (to parents from China) and speak primarily Chinese to their parents at home.

Native speakers are kids who speak Chinese outside of the classroom and are often able to practice the language more. They already know and understand the high and low tones of the language. They are fluent and Chinese is second nature to them. For non-native speakers, the only time they are speaking the language is in the classroom or practice with YouTube. They really don't have opportunities to practice the language outside of the classroom. Most kids who are non-native speakers are also very shy about speaking outside of the classroom. They don't have the confidence to go out and speak the language for fear of looking foolish. So, they don't really practice outside of the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you by mean native speakers for kids? Are those kids American born but they have Chinese speaking parents at home speaking to them in Chinese at home?

Many native speakers at W schools are from China, and they primarily speak Chinese at home with their parents. But there are also kids who are born here (to parents from China) and speak primarily Chinese to their parents at home.

Native speakers are kids who speak Chinese outside of the classroom and are often able to practice the language more. They already know and understand the high and low tones of the language. They are fluent and Chinese is second nature to them. For non-native speakers, the only time they are speaking the language is in the classroom or practice with YouTube. They really don't have opportunities to practice the language outside of the classroom. Most kids who are non-native speakers are also very shy about speaking outside of the classroom. They don't have the confidence to go out and speak the language for fear of looking foolish. So, they don't really practice outside of the classroom.

[Anonymous]

MCPS language instruction from K through 12 is abysmal and an embarrassment for all languages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS language instruction from K through 12 is abysmal and an embarrassment for all languages.

+1

I heard the same. AP language classes for French and Spanish I heard are similar to those experienced by AP Chinese.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS language instruction from K through 12 is abysmal and an embarrassment for all languages.

+1

I heard the same. AP language classes for French and Spanish I heard are similar to those experienced by AP Chinese.

We thought it was fantastic!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you drop out of immersion, you will be in a different class. Immersion is only half day at Potomac. Kids do math and science in Chinese and reading, social studies and specials in English. They may make a few new friends if they are not in immersion. Kids stay with their class for half the day.

There are usually 2 Chinese classes in each grade with about 25 kids in each class. Teacher teaches one class in the morning and the other class in the afternoon. There is one teacher for each grade.

What they learn is very basic. It’s about 60% Chinese but some also do not speak the language at home. It’s also done through repetition and songs. Don’t worry if you do not speak any Chinese. My kids did not and they did fine.

There is only one immersion program in each school. There is no French or Spanish at Potomac. Only Chinese.

It’s a nice program. They have a fun Chinese new year celebration and do dinner and a program with singing and some dancing. It’s done well but keep your expectations very low. They will learn a lot more of the language in MS. By HS, the sad part is most non native speakers drop. Very few non native speakers earn the bilingual award. Most that take AP and score 4s and 5s are mostly native speakers.

Do you know how many students in Hoover MS immersion program go to Churchill HS through COSA? If a student in the MS immersion program does not live within Churchill HS boundary, does it mean that student need to go back to the home school after finishing MS immersion program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you drop out of immersion, you will be in a different class. Immersion is only half day at Potomac. Kids do math and science in Chinese and reading, social studies and specials in English. They may make a few new friends if they are not in immersion. Kids stay with their class for half the day.

There are usually 2 Chinese classes in each grade with about 25 kids in each class. Teacher teaches one class in the morning and the other class in the afternoon. There is one teacher for each grade.

What they learn is very basic. It’s about 60% Chinese but some also do not speak the language at home. It’s also done through repetition and songs. Don’t worry if you do not speak any Chinese. My kids did not and they did fine.

There is only one immersion program in each school. There is no French or Spanish at Potomac. Only Chinese.

It’s a nice program. They have a fun Chinese new year celebration and do dinner and a program with singing and some dancing. It’s done well but keep your expectations very low. They will learn a lot more of the language in MS. By HS, the sad part is most non native speakers drop. Very few non native speakers earn the bilingual award. Most that take AP and score 4s and 5s are mostly native speakers.

Do you know how many students in Hoover MS immersion program go to Churchill HS through COSA? If a student in the MS immersion program does not live within Churchill HS boundary, does it mean that student need to go back to the home school after finishing MS immersion program?

Not that many since most live within the Churchill boundary. Potomac selects most immersion kids from within. Maybe a handful each year need COSA when they go to MS.

Technically, if kids do not continue with Chinese, they are suppose to go back to their home school. I have heard some kids apply for COSA to continue at Hoover and not take Chinese.

Most kids in HS are native speakers, 95% It’s sad that MCPS does not really develop the curriculum so that kids learn advance language skills. The curriculum is horrible and the teacher does whatever They want which is teaching native speakers. It’s a class of native speakers that already know the language and they all score 5s on the AP exam. That is what they are most proud of. What’s the point of that?