Starting language immersion in 2nd grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes this is fine. It's still really early.

Source?

[Anonymous]

In my experience as a spanish tutor this is an incredibly poor decision. I truly believe 1st grade is too late, and second and above is borderline child abuse. I have never seen a child thrive in this situation. Sure sometimes they can muddle through- but is that what you want your kid to think about themselves? Do you want to spend many thousands on enrichment, tutoring, etc? I have yet to see a summer camp in this area that does a good job teaching spanish. They are essentially Spanish exposure. Changing all your screens to English works on toddlers, not on kids who can read and know how to switch them back. You’re going to teach your kid to look at the pictures and tune out the voices. Please don’t do this. If you go ahead and do it (and again, your kid will resent you) please set them up with a one on one tutor and in person group lessons.

[Anonymous]

Please spare me the “my mother came here as a third grader and speaks fluent English”. Yes in that situation you have no choice but to speak English. You have no choice but to learn if you want to participate in society. Spanish immersion only works if your kid truly thinks no one else will understand him or her. They all know people around them speak English. You’re asking too much of your child. And this is unnecessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a spanish tutor this is an incredibly poor decision. I truly believe 1st grade is too late, and second and above is borderline child abuse. I have never seen a child thrive in this situation. Sure sometimes they can muddle through- but is that what you want your kid to think about themselves? Do you want to spend many thousands on enrichment, tutoring, etc? I have yet to see a summer camp in this area that does a good job teaching spanish. They are essentially Spanish exposure. Changing all your screens to English works on toddlers, not on kids who can read and know how to switch them back. You’re going to teach your kid to look at the pictures and tune out the voices. Please don’t do this. If you go ahead and do it (and again, your kid will resent you) please set them up with a one on one tutor and in person group lessons.

I find this negative take really interesting. Kids in Europe and other places learn second and third languages in higher grades. I think it is a lot of work to achieve fluency, but not a horrible idea. Especially for a bright kid that wants to learn.

[Anonymous]

It is fine as long as he is smart kid and is interested in other languages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience it depends on whether the child cares to learn.

If the child sees it as drudgery, a thorn in their side, they'll hate it.

If they see it as a fun thing that they take to like a riddle or something they're 'good at' then a kid can start at almost any age.

There is also some element of innate talent for language that some have and some don't. Everyone can learn another language if they're young enough, but after that some really struggle while others can still pick it up relatively smoothly.

100%. Something shifts around age 10 for the chances of building a good base to get to native fluency, and it just gets harder and harder (not impossible, but requires harder commitment) from there. 2nd grade is well within that range – but need a kid who likes to learn and otherwise supportive environment.

It's also about frequency of exposure. OP needs to find opportunities for immersion and daily exposure now, before the kid enters 2nd grade. Parents at our immersion school are talking about taking their kids abroad for a few weeks this summer and enrolling them in a local day camp. OP is going to need to make an investment to help her kid catch up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience as a spanish tutor this is an incredibly poor decision. I truly believe 1st grade is too late, and second and above is borderline child abuse. I have never seen a child thrive in this situation. Sure sometimes they can muddle through- but is that what you want your kid to think about themselves? Do you want to spend many thousands on enrichment, tutoring, etc? I have yet to see a summer camp in this area that does a good job teaching spanish. They are essentially Spanish exposure. Changing all your screens to English works on toddlers, not on kids who can read and know how to switch them back. You’re going to teach your kid to look at the pictures and tune out the voices. Please don’t do this. If you go ahead and do it (and again, your kid will resent you) please set them up with a one on one tutor and in person group lessons.

I find this negative take really interesting. Kids in Europe and other places learn second and third languages in higher grades. I think it is a lot of work to achieve fluency, but not a horrible idea. Especially for a bright kid that wants to learn.

That is not the same as immersion where you are taught subjects in the language and OP kids won’t understand anything. It’s not just the language itself that kid will struggle with but also likely core subjects.

It’s not the same as taking a language class.

I agree with teacher. Bad idea. It’s too late.

[Anonymous]

Great idea. Spanish is not a hard language.

[Anonymous]

Are there any immersion schools that will take a newbie in 2nd grade? Our immersion charter doesn't accept new kids after prek4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any immersion schools that will take a newbie in 2nd grade? Our immersion charter doesn't accept new kids after prek4.

I'm pretty sure Mundo Verde takes kids at any grade.

I previously had a DC there in first grade, who had a classmate transfer in. He described that student really struggling - though I have no insight into how prepared or not the student was before school started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there any immersion schools that will take a newbie in 2nd grade? Our immersion charter doesn't accept new kids after prek4.

I'm pretty sure Mundo Verde takes kids at any grade.

I previously had a DC there in first grade, who had a classmate transfer in. He described that student really struggling - though I have no insight into how prepared or not the student was before school started.

My immersion elementary school kid comes home with work written entirely in Spanish. I don't know how someone who doesn't speak could keep up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please spare me the “my mother came here as a third grader and speaks fluent English”. Yes in that situation you have no choice but to speak English. You have no choice but to learn if you want to participate in society. Spanish immersion only works if your kid truly thinks no one else will understand him or her. They all know people around them speak English. You’re asking too much of your child. And this is unnecessary.

+1,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there any immersion schools that will take a newbie in 2nd grade? Our immersion charter doesn't accept new kids after prek4.

I'm pretty sure Mundo Verde takes kids at any grade.

I previously had a DC there in first grade, who had a classmate transfer in. He described that student really struggling - though I have no insight into how prepared or not the student was before school started.

My immersion elementary school kid comes home with work written entirely in Spanish. I don't know how someone who doesn't speak could keep up.

If OP is crazy enough to even consider this for her 2nd grader which is a very bad move, I would not list MV where expectations are high in spanish.

Yes they take a few kids in upper grades but these kids are from DCPS bilingual schools and even they come in behind.

[Anonymous]

2nd is too late unless your child already speaks Spanish some at home. It is also an important year for academic learning generally. Only you can evaluate that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great idea. Spanish is not a hard language.

This is just a racist take