Immersion ... pros and cons?

[Anonymous]

Parent of two immersion kids here. I don't feel like we've lost anything in terms of neighborhood friendships. My kids still play with their neighborhood friends regularly after school and on weekends. None of the kids in our neighborhood seem to be in the same classes anyway at our home school, so nothing lost there. Since there are only two immersion classes at our school for each grade, our kids have also developed extremely close relationships with kids in their classes, which we love. So it's really the best of both worlds in my opinion. They also of course have friendships through their sports. We both work full time and don't have a problem helping our kids facilitate friendships.

In terms of English, the only impact I saw early on was with spelling, but that doesn't seem to be an issue anymore.

[Anonymous]

I don't speak another language. I wish I did. Honestly, it serves no real purpose other than it is cool. My wife does speak a second language.

I have done work in Germany and Japan and did fine not speaking language.

I have a ton of staff over the years who spoke Spanish, Indian/Hindi type languages and Mandarin. would have been nice to speak it.


Most Presidents dont speak foreign languages. Other than the Pope who usually speaks multiple languages as does Mass and stuff in different countries what is purpose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't speak another language. I wish I did. Honestly, it serves no real purpose other than it is cool. My wife does speak a second language.

I have done work in Germany and Japan and did fine not speaking language.

I have a ton of staff over the years who spoke Spanish, Indian/Hindi type languages and Mandarin. would have been nice to speak it.


Most Presidents dont speak foreign languages. Other than the Pope who usually speaks multiple languages as does Mass and stuff in different countries what is purpose.

In addition the conversations and friendships you might have had, and the connections you might have made, there is something good in learning a new language for just you, too. When you speak a different language, you access a different way of thinking. You broaden your entire mind. Words and patterns that are unique to that language give you new patterns of thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't speak another language. I wish I did. Honestly, it serves no real purpose other than it is cool. My wife does speak a second language.

I have done work in Germany and Japan and did fine not speaking language.

I have a ton of staff over the years who spoke Spanish, Indian/Hindi type languages and Mandarin. would have been nice to speak it.


Most Presidents dont speak foreign languages. Other than the Pope who usually speaks multiple languages as does Mass and stuff in different countries what is purpose.

In addition the conversations and friendships you might have had, and the connections you might have made, there is something good in learning a new language for just you, too. When you speak a different language, you access a different way of thinking. You broaden your entire mind. Words and patterns that are unique to that language give you new patterns of thinking.

I am fluent in French and English. When I speak French, my thinking changes slightly. My sense of humour changes. You definitely see the world differently when thinking in a different language. You have access to that part of the culture that you can access through the vocabulary, grammar, idioms, even swear words.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't speak another language. I wish I did. Honestly, it serves no real purpose other than it is cool. My wife does speak a second language.

I have done work in Germany and Japan and did fine not speaking language.

I have a ton of staff over the years who spoke Spanish, Indian/Hindi type languages and Mandarin. would have been nice to speak it.


Most Presidents dont speak foreign languages. Other than the Pope who usually speaks multiple languages as does Mass and stuff in different countries what is purpose.

In addition the conversations and friendships you might have had, and the connections you might have made, there is something good in learning a new language for just you, too. When you speak a different language, you access a different way of thinking. You broaden your entire mind. Words and patterns that are unique to that language give you new patterns of thinking.

Issue is who do you speak it to? My wife fluent German we know no Germans, my one daughter took 8 years French now in college it is rusting away. My jobs have taking me to working for a Japanese, German and even orthodox Jewish company. If I learned only one language which one?

Chinese and Indian workers visit home a lot and relatives speak only that language. My parents are immigrants and their native language is English.

And depends who you marry my spouse knows no German speakers. She has a lot of Jewish friends she never told she was German and speaking German in front of Jewish friends not going to fly

I am fluent in French and English. When I speak French, my thinking changes slightly. My sense of humour changes. You definitely see the world differently when thinking in a different language. You have access to that part of the culture that you can access through the vocabulary, grammar, idioms, even swear words.

[Anonymous]

I speak 4 languages. My 2 kids are now going to/starting immersion at Oakland Terrace ES. I would not have it any other way. We have taken them abroad since they were infants and family travel will always have a component of foreign language to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't speak another language. I wish I did. Honestly, it serves no real purpose other than it is cool. My wife does speak a second language.

I have done work in Germany and Japan and did fine not speaking language.

I have a ton of staff over the years who spoke Spanish, Indian/Hindi type languages and Mandarin. would have been nice to speak it.


Most Presidents dont speak foreign languages. Other than the Pope who usually speaks multiple languages as does Mass and stuff in different countries what is purpose.

In addition the conversations and friendships you might have had, and the connections you might have made, there is something good in learning a new language for just you, too. When you speak a different language, you access a different way of thinking. You broaden your entire mind. Words and patterns that are unique to that language give you new patterns of thinking.

Issue is who do you speak it to? My wife fluent German we know no Germans, my one daughter took 8 years French now in college it is rusting away. My jobs have taking me to working for a Japanese, German and even orthodox Jewish company. If I learned only one language which one?

Chinese and Indian workers visit home a lot and relatives speak only that language. My parents are immigrants and their native language is English.

And depends who you marry my spouse knows no German speakers. She has a lot of Jewish friends she never told she was German and speaking German in front of Jewish friends not going to fly

Just learning it is horizon-widening. If you want to keep it up, you can join a conversation group or listen to a program or simply read books in that language once in awhile. Sounds like learning German would be nice for you and your wife, since you could use it professionally and also have something to share. If you want to. It is hard to tell from this post if you want to learn but are doubtful of the benefits, or if you are finding reasons to avoid learning another language. It is what you make of it.

[Anonymous]

I have 2 kids in immersion. We've lived in two different neighborhoods since they've been in immersion and we haven't had any issues fostering friendships with the neighbors. However, in both neighborhoods the neighborhood kids go to a variety of schools (local, private, catholic) so it's not like our children are one of the only few to not be in the local school. The immersion programs are small and the benefit to us has been that we've gotten very close with many of the families and the relationships among the kids are pretty tight. This has it's disadvantages though because if certain kids don't get along they can't really "escape" from each other because it's a small pool of kids.

As far as English skills, both my kids are advanced readers in English (and in the immersion language), so that hasn't been negatively impacted. One child is not a good English speller but the other is extremely good at English spelling. I'm not sure about the English writing - I'm not aware of a way for me to really evaluate how they're doing because their writing at school is in the immersion language.

Beyond the opportunity to become fluent, or semi-fluent, in another language, we also chose immersion for the challenge and long-term cognitive benefits.

[Anonymous]

Both of my kids attended full immersion programs and I see it was a definite benefit. Both are now quite fluent. My child who started kindergarten as a strong reader never had any problem with either English or Spanish reading and writing, but my second who was not a strong reader struggled more in this area. That evens itself out though in the middle school years.

[Anonymous]

I've had four kids in full immersion and they come out fluent, and it is not something my spouse and I could ever have given them. It's super cool that they have this skill after just going to (what they think of as) regular school. Totally worth it. Love that the county is offering more programs like it.

Their English reading skills lagged for about a minute (til 2nd grade?) and their writing/spelling lagged til MS. Then they catch up. Just make sure they're reading a ton in English at home. When they're little, read to them in English (or whatever language you're comfortable in) constantly, and have lots of books around at home for them to read. Just strewn about. Literally everywhere. And ignore them while you read.

[Anonymous]

My child did not do immersion and is fine now. She spoke to a friend who did and they admitted that when they switched to a normal middle school, they had to do a lot of work catching up in terms of the english vocabulary everyone else had picked up naturally. I don't see there being a point, given that we live in an English speaking country and it will just put your kid behind later in life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had four kids in full immersion and they come out fluent, and it is not something my spouse and I could ever have given them. It's super cool that they have this skill after just going to (what they think of as) regular school. Totally worth it. Love that the county is offering more programs like it.

Their English reading skills lagged for about a minute (til 2nd grade?) and their writing/spelling lagged til MS. Then they catch up. Just make sure they're reading a ton in English at home. When they're little, read to them in English (or whatever language you're comfortable in) constantly, and have lots of books around at home for them to read. Just strewn about. Literally everywhere. And ignore them while you read.

Glad to see I'm doing this right!

[Anonymous]

My DS was in immersion until 3rd and then went to CES ( or HGC as it was called then). We didn’t see the immersion negatively affect his ability to read and write in English. In fact since his target language has a lot of Latin his vocabulary was sometimes wider than his English only peers because he could draw across languages. Now in a middle school magnet with a little outside tutoring he managed to keep his immersion language up at a reasonable level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS was in immersion until 3rd and then went to CES ( or HGC as it was called then). We didn’t see the immersion negatively affect his ability to read and write in English. In fact since his target language has a lot of Latin his vocabulary was sometimes wider than his English only peers because he could draw across languages. Now in a middle school magnet with a little outside tutoring he managed to keep his immersion language up at a reasonable level.

How did you decide whether to stay with immersion or do the CES? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS was in immersion until 3rd and then went to CES ( or HGC as it was called then). We didn’t see the immersion negatively affect his ability to read and write in English. In fact since his target language has a lot of Latin his vocabulary was sometimes wider than his English only peers because he could draw across languages. Now in a middle school magnet with a little outside tutoring he managed to keep his immersion language up at a reasonable level.

Mine took the same path, and was in magnets through high school. She graduated with 10 AP credits and earned a 1580 on the SATs, so I would guess that whatever hit her English reading and writing skills took in immersion was corrected by the time she got to high school.

DC has taken a few French culture and literature classes in college, and found them very easy. She has commented over the years that sometimes in conversation the right word comes to her in French before it comes to her in English, and the translation doesn’t always work because she thinks conceptually in both languages. I speak a second language as well and understand perfectly. It really does give you a different vantage point on the world.

She is thinking about applying to graduate school in France, and took an exam this year (the French government establishes standards for this) to determine whether she qualifies from a language capability point of view. She does.

Immersion opens up all kinds of possibilities.