Fastest way to improve Spanish

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Leave immediately. Go to Mexico. Stay there. Give him a soccer ball and send him out to find friends.

This.

But, a lot depends on his social needs. If he is a kid who is comfortable playing alone, it will be tougher.

I taught in DOD schools. In Germany, I taught one child who was Hispanic and lived in a German village. She could speak German, English, and Spanish fluently. She was six years old. She was of average intelligence, but had keen social skills. If there was one thing she was going to do, it was communicate with others. She spoke Spanish at home, German with her friends in her village, and English at school.

There were other kids in my first grade classes who had the same living circumstances. They did not have the same success in language that she did. Some struggled in school with English. Some were actually smarter than this other child. The difference? A gift for languages and a desire to have friends. At least, that is my observation.

I agree that immersion in the culture is the best solution--but, there also needs to be a little talent.

Are you trying to get your son into an immersion program? Is that your purpose?

Yes. We’re moving inbound for Oyster. DS’s sibs all got into privates, but one DS did not. To help ease the disparity, I want to at least be able to send him to the IB school that’s an easy walk from our house, not have him commute across town. My hope is that he will still feel like he has something special going for him (the neighborhood school; easy walk; language immersion) to ease his disappointment.

[Anonymous]

Yes. We’re moving inbound for Oyster. DS’s sibs all got into privates, but one DS did not. To help ease the disparity, I want to at least be able to send him to the IB school that’s an easy walk from our house, not have him commute across town. My hope is that he will still feel like he has something special going for him (the neighborhood school; easy walk; language immersion) to ease his disappointment.

I'm not familiar with this system--does he have an option to not do immersion at that school--or, do you want him to do it because you think it will help him with the transition if he is doing something different/special?

Also, I suspect that if he has a talent and a desire to learn Spanish, that he could catch up if he is really, really motivated. All those kids in immersion may not be as motivated as he. Just a guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes. We’re moving inbound for Oyster. DS’s sibs all got into privates, but one DS did not. To help ease the disparity, I want to at least be able to send him to the IB school that’s an easy walk from our house, not have him commute across town. My hope is that he will still feel like he has something special going for him (the neighborhood school; easy walk; language immersion) to ease his disappointment.

I'm not familiar with this system--does he have an option to not do immersion at that school--or, do you want him to do it because you think it will help him with the transition if he is doing something different/special?

Also, I suspect that if he has a talent and a desire to learn Spanish, that he could catch up if he is really, really motivated. All those kids in immersion may not be as motivated as he. Just a guess.

No, there is no English-only option at Oyster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Leave immediately. Go to Mexico. Stay there. Give him a soccer ball and send him out to find friends.

This.

But, a lot depends on his social needs. If he is a kid who is comfortable playing alone, it will be tougher.

I taught in DOD schools. In Germany, I taught one child who was Hispanic and lived in a German village. She could speak German, English, and Spanish fluently. She was six years old. She was of average intelligence, but had keen social skills. If there was one thing she was going to do, it was communicate with others. She spoke Spanish at home, German with her friends in her village, and English at school.

There were other kids in my first grade classes who had the same living circumstances. They did not have the same success in language that she did. Some struggled in school with English. Some were actually smarter than this other child. The difference? A gift for languages and a desire to have friends. At least, that is my observation.

I agree that immersion in the culture is the best solution--but, there also needs to be a little talent.

Are you trying to get your son into an immersion program? Is that your purpose?

Yes. We’re moving inbound for Oyster. DS’s sibs all got into privates, but one DS did not. To help ease the disparity, I want to at least be able to send him to the IB school that’s an easy walk from our house, not have him commute across town. My hope is that he will still feel like he has something special going for him (the neighborhood school; easy walk; language immersion) to ease his disappointment.

So will your son be in 3rd grade (Oyster) or 4th grade (Adams) next year? Either way, a bit of advice: Your son has an uphill challenge ahead. Oyster has many native Spanish speaking students who only speak Spanish at home and spend summer breaks in their family’s home country. Many non-native speakers have attended immersion schools since pre-K, and many had Spanish speaking nannies beforehand. I say all of this not to discourage you, but to inform you that your son needs to be prepared to struggle academically, at least initially (math, Spanish language arts and some specials are taught in Spanish). If his self esteem will be shattered by this experience, you may want to reconsider. You know your son best. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes. We’re moving inbound for Oyster. DS’s sibs all got into privates, but one DS did not. To help ease the disparity, I want to at least be able to send him to the IB school that’s an easy walk from our house, not have him commute across town. My hope is that he will still feel like he has something special going for him (the neighborhood school; easy walk; language immersion) to ease his disappointment.

I'm not familiar with this system--does he have an option to not do immersion at that school--or, do you want him to do it because you think it will help him with the transition if he is doing something different/special?

Also, I suspect that if he has a talent and a desire to learn Spanish, that he could catch up if he is really, really motivated. All those kids in immersion may not be as motivated as he. Just a guess.

Oyster does not have a non-immersion option, and after K (maybe after first grade?), a child has to demonstrate Spanish fluency to attend. Otherwise, their school of right is SWW@FS.

[Anonymous]

No, there is no English-only option at Oyster.

First, I know nothing about this program or your situation.

Have you spoken to the people at the school?
If so, what do they tell you? Will he be allowed to enroll "as is" or must he have some Spanish speaking?

What are your other options?

My personal opinion is that it is possible for him to get some knowledge of Spanish and to "catch up" a little. The kids I know in immersion programs are not all that advanced by that age unless they have a second language support system at home. Some people catch on faster to languages and some --no matter how smart--just don't pick it up as easily.

I'm no expert--but, it is an interesting dilemma. Hire a Spanish speaking nanny with kids that come with her. Or, have her watch him at her house. A child the same age might be helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t underestimate the power of immersion. I went to Guatemala at age 19, having taken one year of high school Spanish. I was fully conversational within a month. After 6 months I was fluent.

There was almost no one around to speak to in English though.

You had a year of the language under your belt which means you knew basic phrases, pronunciation, and a lot of vocabulary. Completely different.

[Anonymous]

A nanny that speaks limited English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t underestimate the power of immersion. I went to Guatemala at age 19, having taken one year of high school Spanish. I was fully conversational within a month. After 6 months I was fluent.

There was almost no one around to speak to in English though.

You had a year of the language under your belt which means you knew basic phrases, pronunciation, and a lot of vocabulary. Completely different.

Nonsense. Returned Peace Corps volunteer here. Language training can get you through basic conversation in 2-3 months