Entering Yu Ying as a 1st Grader

[Anonymous]

I love the idea of bilingual education, and we are seriously considering it for our rising 1st grader. However, I'm worried about how much of a disadvantage she'll be at. Also, I'd hate to see her be moved onto the track that's not immersion simply because she's late to the bilingual program.

I'd love to hear from others who started their child as a first grader at Yu Ying - did it pan out? What types of things happened that you think supported your child to succeed (that you did or the school did or are your child's personality/background)? Did it not pan out and did you end up switching to an English only school? Why do you think it didn't work out?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Didn't start in first grade but saw kids who did and according to my DC they do have a rocky start but the other kids help them and they start to catch up. Also, there's a lot of misunderstanding about this on DCUM but the second track is for kids who are lagging in English, not Chinese (although I gather the two are mostly linked), and your child will have had more English than the other kids so I'm guessing she'll have no problem.

[Anonymous]

My child started in first grade. It was rocky at the beginning, but she did catch up. You might want to have your child tutored for a bit before entering YY.

I disagree that difficulty in Chinese and English are linked for every child. Many children struggle in English, but do not have difficulty in Chinese. There is less decoding in Chinese. The sound that the character makes does not change. In English a child has to figure out which rule applies which can be difficult (tough and though for example). Granted there is more memorization in Chinese, but for many children English is more difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child started in first grade. It was rocky at the beginning, but she did catch up. You might want to have your child tutored for a bit before entering YY.

I disagree that difficulty in Chinese and English are linked for every child. Many children struggle in English, but do not have difficulty in Chinese. There is less decoding in Chinese. The sound that the character makes does not change. In English a child has to figure out which rule applies which can be difficult (tough and though for example). Granted there is more memorization in Chinese, but for many children English is more difficult.

This is 11:07. Totally agree re there not being a general link between progress in English and Chinese, I was referring to the kids in the alternate track only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child started in first grade. It was rocky at the beginning, but she did catch up. You might want to have your child tutored for a bit before entering YY.

I disagree that difficulty in Chinese and English are linked for every child. Many children struggle in English, but do not have difficulty in Chinese. There is less decoding in Chinese. The sound that the character makes does not change. In English a child has to figure out which rule applies which can be difficult (tough and though for example). Granted there is more memorization in Chinese, but for many children English is more difficult.

This is 11:07. Totally agree re there not being a general link between progress in English and Chinese, I was referring to the kids in the alternate track only.

Sorry, meant I am 10:19. Skipped coffee this am!

[Anonymous]

Difficulty in learning English and Chinese is not linked for every child, as PPs have indicated. However, the Chinese will suffer if the understanding and structure of English/language is not strong. There will be a tremendous deficit.

[Anonymous]

Ok.

[Anonymous]

Depends on how committed you are as a parent- and the resources you have available. My child started late and we invested in tutors that first year. The school also provided a booster group. And the aftercare program has a Chinese homework hour. If you're willing to put in the work and you have the resources to do so, you'll be giving your child a wonderful gift.