Were you happy with your child's foreign language acquisition at Big 3 in elementary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They learn very little. Three families we know with native speakers sent the kids to the Argentine school.

Now, Argentinian Spanish, there's a fine accent. It's much more respected among the upper classes in Europe. And this is an enrichment program on the weekend that is far cheaper than 40 K a year for elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They learn very little. Three families we know with native speakers sent the kids to the Argentine school.

Now, Argentinian Spanish, there's a fine accent. It's much more respected among the upper classes in Europe. And this is an enrichment program on the weekend that is far cheaper than 40 K a year for elementary.

First I hear about this.

Which Spanish accent do upper classes in Europe respect the least?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They learn very little. Three families we know with native speakers sent the kids to the Argentine school.

Now, Argentinian Spanish, there's a fine accent. It's much more respected among the upper classes in Europe. And this is an enrichment program on the weekend that is far cheaper than 40 K a year for elementary.

First I hear about this.

Which Spanish accent do upper classes in Europe respect the least?

Probably Chile or Dominican Republic.

[Anonymous]

I am from DC abroad in a Spanish speaking country. My kindergartener goes to an immersion English program where most of the kids speak Spanish socially but the school is taught in English (except Spanish class and a few of the specials classes). He's probably getting around 8-10 hours a week of Spanish exposure and has learned a lot, but still only understands maybe 25% and is by no means fluent. We're looking into getting a tutor to move things along, and when our assignment is over I'm looking into Saturday school options but I'm not sure 3 hours a week is going to be enough to retain it honestly.

Your child isn't going to get much with just one hour a week. My child's school also has French once a week and all he can do so far is count 1-10. They've covered months of the year, seasons, colors, some animals as well but none of that has stuck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They learn very little. Three families we know with native speakers sent the kids to the Argentine school.

Now, Argentinian Spanish, there's a fine accent. It's much more respected among the upper classes in Europe. And this is an enrichment program on the weekend that is far cheaper than 40 K a year for elementary.

First I hear about this.

Which Spanish accent do upper classes in Europe respect the least?

I take it this is tongue and cheek banter, but everyone knows this is true.

Its exactly the same in England where an aristocratic accent is to the ear immediately recognizable just as is a working class accent from Liverpool or East End.

The French mark each other Parisian or NOT by the accent.

WIS teachers are mostly from Columbia and that is the accent your kids will likely speak with.

Think about it this way: if you were learning English in Germany and you wanted to attend Oxford or Cambridge one day, would you want your English language immersion to be lead by an Englishman from Tunbridge Wells or a Texan ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you expect your child to become fluent with 1-2 hours of language instruction?

My kids are trilingual and “learn” Spanish at school (at a big 3). They can say a few words and understand a lot in Spanish because their other languages are also Latin languages, but they are not fluent in Spanish at all.

On the other hand, they are 100% fluent in mom’s language and almost fluent in dad’s. I only speak in my native language to them and they speak to grandparents in tht language too. My older girls often speak my native language among themselves too (maybe 50% of the time English and 50% of the time my native language). They never went to school to learn it and never took classes. We spend a lot of time in my home country and that helps

The issue becomes whether or not they are literate in the other languages. My nephew grew up in a Spain with German speaking parents. Naturally he speaks German well. However, my husband says that when the nephew writes to him in German, the nephew's grammar and spelling is awful. I struck the same thing learning French at university. The kids with French parents had great listening comprehension but the professor was aghast that they didn't know the difference between aller, allais, allait, allaient, and allé, which all sound much the same but have very different uses in written passages.

Think, the average 4 year old American kid can speak English very well. They can't read or write in English without instruction though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They learn very little. Three families we know with native speakers sent the kids to the Argentine school.

Now, Argentinian Spanish, there's a fine accent. It's much more respected among the upper classes in Europe. And this is an enrichment program on the weekend that is far cheaper than 40 K a year for elementary.

First I hear about this.

Which Spanish accent do upper classes in Europe respect the least?

I take it this is tongue and cheek banter, but everyone knows this is true.

Its exactly the same in England where an aristocratic accent is to the ear immediately recognizable just as is a working class accent from Liverpool or East End.

The French mark each other Parisian or NOT by the accent.

WIS teachers are mostly from Columbia and that is the accent your kids will likely speak with.

Think about it this way: if you were learning English in Germany and you wanted to attend Oxford or Cambridge one day, would you want your English language immersion to be lead by an Englishman from Tunbridge Wells or a Texan ?

First of all, it's Colombia -- not Columbia.

Second of all, Colombian Spanish can be beautiful. Ever hear of Gabriel Garcia Marquez?

You obviously have no idea what you're talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a bilingual (Spanish) family who pre-Covid traveled or received Spanish speaking family members at home frequently. My DD's Spanish seemed to being going okay until Covid. Our DCPS immersion PK program was not working for our family so we went private (Big 3) this year (Spanish once a week and some morning circles). While we are happy with many aspects of DD's education and overall wellbeing, her Spanish seems to continue to lag (ie not verbalizing many words or thoughts in Spanish). We just started supplementing with in person instruction outside of school but have had a hard time finding an in person program? What, if anything, did you do to supplement your child foreign language acquisition while attending non-immersion elementary private? Did your child become fluent? Please tell me I am stressing for no reason.

We own a home in France and our DC spends summers there and is exposed to French then, which he can build on with classes if he chooses. For us, the focus of his education was strength across the board: higher level science, math, classics, writing and all of the other fellowships, internships, mentorship and the alumni network his Big 3 offered- having a perfect accent, not so much.

I also think with technology moving forward there is so much rapid translation it isn't like its the 70's anymore and that the ONLY way to communicate is spend 12 years in a foreign language immersion school

Technology will never replace being able to read, write and think in another language.

Lol, I have dozens of friends in DC who manage when in Europe whether for mergers & acquisitions, OPEC, MENA conferences or just travel. Honestly, its Spanish, French and German - not rocket science.

I wouldn't make it the focus of education above ALL else

Your friends sound really boring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a bilingual (Spanish) family who pre-Covid traveled or received Spanish speaking family members at home frequently. My DD's Spanish seemed to being going okay until Covid. Our DCPS immersion PK program was not working for our family so we went private (Big 3) this year (Spanish once a week and some morning circles). While we are happy with many aspects of DD's education and overall wellbeing, her Spanish seems to continue to lag (ie not verbalizing many words or thoughts in Spanish). We just started supplementing with in person instruction outside of school but have had a hard time finding an in person program? What, if anything, did you do to supplement your child foreign language acquisition while attending non-immersion elementary private? Did your child become fluent? Please tell me I am stressing for no reason.

We own a home in France and our DC spends summers there and is exposed to French then, which he can build on with classes if he chooses. For us, the focus of his education was strength across the board: higher level science, math, classics, writing and all of the other fellowships, internships, mentorship and the alumni network his Big 3 offered- having a perfect accent, not so much.

I also think with technology moving forward there is so much rapid translation it isn't like its the 70's anymore and that the ONLY way to communicate is spend 12 years in a foreign language immersion school

Technology will never replace being able to read, write and think in another language.

Lol, I have dozens of friends in DC who manage when in Europe whether for mergers & acquisitions, OPEC, MENA conferences or just travel. Honestly, its Spanish, French and German - not rocket science.

I wouldn't make it the focus of education above ALL else

Your friends sound really boring.

NP. Well you sound like a boring snob.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you expect your child to become fluent with 1-2 hours of language instruction?

My kids are trilingual and “learn” Spanish at school (at a big 3). They can say a few words and understand a lot in Spanish because their other languages are also Latin languages, but they are not fluent in Spanish at all.

On the other hand, they are 100% fluent in mom’s language and almost fluent in dad’s. I only speak in my native language to them and they speak to grandparents in tht language too. My older girls often speak my native language among themselves too (maybe 50% of the time English and 50% of the time my native language). They never went to school to learn it and never took classes. We spend a lot of time in my home country and that helps

The issue becomes whether or not they are literate in the other languages. My nephew grew up in a Spain with German speaking parents. Naturally he speaks German well. However, my husband says that when the nephew writes to him in German, the nephew's grammar and spelling is awful. I struck the same thing learning French at university. The kids with French parents had great listening comprehension but the professor was aghast that they didn't know the difference between aller, allais, allait, allaient, and allé, which all sound much the same but have very different uses in written passages.

Think, the average 4 year old American kid can speak English very well. They can't read or write in English without instruction though.

Well, the solution for that is much cheaper than dedicating 40 K a year to have perfect French Grammar- use a computer program like gramarly or hire a Secretary.

After all, most high level positions come with an Admin Asst

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They learn very little. Three families we know with native speakers sent the kids to the Argentine school.

Now, Argentinian Spanish, there's a fine accent. It's much more respected among the upper classes in Europe. And this is an enrichment program on the weekend that is far cheaper than 40 K a year for elementary.

First I hear about this.

Which Spanish accent do upper classes in Europe respect the least?

I take it this is tongue and cheek banter, but everyone knows this is true.

Its exactly the same in England where an aristocratic accent is to the ear immediately recognizable just as is a working class accent from Liverpool or East End.

The French mark each other Parisian or NOT by the accent.

WIS teachers are mostly from Columbia and that is the accent your kids will likely speak with.

Think about it this way: if you were learning English in Germany and you wanted to attend Oxford or Cambridge one day, would you want your English language immersion to be lead by an Englishman from Tunbridge Wells or a Texan ?

First of all, it's Colombia -- not Columbia.

Second of all, Colombian Spanish can be beautiful. Ever hear of Gabriel Garcia Marquez?

You obviously have no idea what you're talking about.

Go ahead, its your money but I bet most English only speaking American parents applying to a foreign language immersion school don't have any clue that they are about to spend 500K over 14 years to achieve having the first impression on their child in a job interview in Spain be that they are from a poor background

And the schools that are taking your money bet on you not knowing the difference too.

Better question to ask is why aren't their Spanish program teachers, ancillary and support staff ALL from Spain and capable of instilling an elegant and immediately distinguishing Castilian accent to go with their IB

Maybe its because THOSE kinds of teachers wouldn't work there ???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you expect your child to become fluent with 1-2 hours of language instruction?

My kids are trilingual and “learn” Spanish at school (at a big 3). They can say a few words and understand a lot in Spanish because their other languages are also Latin languages, but they are not fluent in Spanish at all.

On the other hand, they are 100% fluent in mom’s language and almost fluent in dad’s. I only speak in my native language to them and they speak to grandparents in tht language too. My older girls often speak my native language among themselves too (maybe 50% of the time English and 50% of the time my native language). They never went to school to learn it and never took classes. We spend a lot of time in my home country and that helps

The issue becomes whether or not they are literate in the other languages. My nephew grew up in a Spain with German speaking parents. Naturally he speaks German well. However, my husband says that when the nephew writes to him in German, the nephew's grammar and spelling is awful. I struck the same thing learning French at university. The kids with French parents had great listening comprehension but the professor was aghast that they didn't know the difference between aller, allais, allait, allaient, and allé, which all sound much the same but have very different uses in written passages.

Think, the average 4 year old American kid can speak English very well. They can't read or write in English without instruction though.

Well, the solution for that is much cheaper than dedicating 40 K a year to have perfect French Grammar- use a computer program like gramarly or hire a Secretary.

After all, most high level positions come with an Admin Asst

So using your logic, English shouldn't even be a subject in US schools if people can just use a computer program or admin asst? I'm not sure how admin assts will get their writing skills or how a person can go about writing their own (gasp) messages and reports.

[Anonymous]

No, my point is that the average DC parent who can afford to shell out 45-50K a year for their child's education is likely expecting a very rigorous and well rounded education is all areas: writing ( expository, creative and research ), history ( 9 years of full year course work from 4th grade to include: European, ME, African, Meso- American, Asian, the last 4 years of it all AP/ Honors), high level math and science with strong programs beginning in KDG, computer science, ethics, classics and foreign language.

And, if after 14 years of that, their DC's grammar in French isn't equal to a Po applicant from Paris, then well use a computer program to proof read their written French applications or their Spanish

But I would think such parents who for some romantic reason want their child to read, write and speak as if they are a native speaker- so much so that they are willing to sacrifice much of the above education ( foreign immersion schools have much slimmer applicant pool and they have to get VISAS for them ) they should at least go into it knowing that the accent they are paying 500K over 14 years to obtain is probably going to result in their kid sounding like " the help" to a well educated Spaniard or French gate keeper at desired future employer

IF they even attain the fluency, which no one can predict in a 4 year old Pre-K applicant

But go right ahead, its your money and your kid's childhood

[Anonymous]

" foreign language immersion school have a much smaller TEACHER applicant pool " to select from because they have to get VISA's for them so retention of bad hires or hires of lest than stellar teachers tend to be higher at these schools

Conversely, the regular DC Privates can recruit from a huge applicant pool, can insist on all Graduate degrees, can terminate poor performing teachers before their presence in the class detracts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are a bilingual (Spanish) family who pre-Covid traveled or received Spanish speaking family members at home frequently. My DD's Spanish seemed to being going okay until Covid. Our DCPS immersion PK program was not working for our family so we went private (Big 3) this year (Spanish once a week and some morning circles). While we are happy with many aspects of DD's education and overall wellbeing, her Spanish seems to continue to lag (ie not verbalizing many words or thoughts in Spanish). We just started supplementing with in person instruction outside of school but have had a hard time finding an in person program? What, if anything, did you do to supplement your child foreign language acquisition while attending non-immersion elementary private? Did your child become fluent? Please tell me I am stressing for no reason.

We own a home in France and our DC spends summers there and is exposed to French then, which he can build on with classes if he chooses. For us, the focus of his education was strength across the board: higher level science, math, classics, writing and all of the other fellowships, internships, mentorship and the alumni network his Big 3 offered- having a perfect accent, not so much.

I also think with technology moving forward there is so much rapid translation it isn't like its the 70's anymore and that the ONLY way to communicate is spend 12 years in a foreign language immersion school

Technology will never replace being able to read, write and think in another language.

Lol, I have dozens of friends in DC who manage when in Europe whether for mergers & acquisitions, OPEC, MENA conferences or just travel. Honestly, its Spanish, French and German - not rocket science.

I wouldn't make it the focus of education above ALL else

Native fluency and being able to "manage" are two completely different things. It depends on what you value. Nice humble brags, BTW.