Question about Spanish immersion ES if Spanish not spoken by parents

[Anonymous]

Hi,

We have the option of sending our child to Claremont Immersion Elementary School in Arlington in the fall. Neither my husband nor I speak Spanish. Im worried how we will be able to help our child with homework since we don't know the language. Is this not something to worry about? If you are a parent who doesn't speak spanish, but send your kids to a Spanish immersion school, how difficult has that been for you? I would appreciate thoughts on this. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Not direct experience, but my cousin did the Spanish immersion program at another ES up until middle school. As far as I know, neither spoke spoke Spanish, but he did end up "teaching"the parents some. The only issue came up when he started math class in middle school. He been been taught in Spanish during ES and it took him awhile to adjust to the English version of explaining things. That may have been just him though.

[Anonymous]

All of the immersion programs work under the assuption that the parents do not speak that language at home. Other programs include German, Japanese, Italian and French immersion. Spanish is the one that does have a lot of spanish speaking parents for various reasons. I know several peole whose children were in immersions programs where the parents did not know the language being taught. They loved it.

One family had their son in a german immersion program and when he finished middle school they all went to Germany for 2 weeks ad he was their translator the entire time.

[Anonymous]

The only issue came up when he started math class in middle school. He been been taught in Spanish during ES and it took him awhile to adjust to the English version of explaining things. That may have been just him though.

My husband went to a school where they spoke english vs. his native tounge. He learned all of his math in english. As a result he can't do math in spanish, his native language, it is quirky but not a problem. I am sure FCPS has experience in working this out for the students. None of the kids I know that have gone thru this program have said this was a problem forthem.

[Anonymous]

OP here-- thanks for the feedback!

[Anonymous]

Different school, but we have done fine, with the help of Google translate. The math does not need translation and you will learn some key words (color, describe, draw, etc). The teachers are understanding and do not grade on the language skills.