What do you think about a Japanese Immersion Public Charter in Ward 7?

[Anonymous]

There are multiple problems with Japanese - I say this as someone who studied it in high school, lived in Japan, studied it in college - the main one being that the Japanese economy has stagnated for 20-odd years.

If Japanese growth and entwinement with the American economy was happening at the rate it was in the 1980s, Japanese would be very, very worthwhile. But the country is simply not the growing source of economic opportunity it once was.

Another issue is how xenophobic and closed-off Japanese society is, i.e., even if you studied Japanese ages 4-22 and speak it fluently, you're still a foreigner doomed to live on the margins of society as either exotic or undesirable. And let's be super honest, that goes double for African-Americans, unfortunately. There are exceptions, sure, but this is the unfortunate norm.

I'd take it over a number of other languages, but I can see why no one has jumped to make it happen.

[Anonymous]

I'm a white, high SES resident of Ward six with an infant (so, basically, the demographic you are asking about). I would come to a school in Ward 7 for Spanish or Arabic and maybe French as long as it was well-run and had strong teachers. I wouldn't bother for a language like Japanese. Its too hard to learn and not useful enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a white, high SES resident of Ward six with an infant (so, basically, the demographic you are asking about). I would come to a school in Ward 7 for Spanish or Arabic and maybe French as long as it was well-run and had strong teachers. I wouldn't bother for a language like Japanese. Its too hard to learn and not useful enough.

+1

Frankly, we need more Chinese.

[Anonymous]

am similar to Ward 6 PP; would go for Arabic or Chinese, but not Japanese (and I do most of my business with Japan and Korea).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Second Arabic over Japanese. Huge need.

just make sure they don't try to use the RosettaStone as that other would-be charter tried. How ridiculous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Second Arabic over Japanese. Huge need.

just make sure they don't try to use the RosettaStone as that other would-be charter tried. How ridiculous!

What?? I never knew that story. No wonder it didn't get off the ground..Arabic seems like a no brainer.

[Anonymous]

A Japanese school in W7 seems like Sela Part II.

There has to be an objective way to rank demand for foreign language study.

[Anonymous]

It’s already hard enough for the current language immersion schools to attract and retain teachers. Especially ones who are proficient and educated in the target language. Will Japanese be easier?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:am similar to Ward 6 PP; would go for Arabic or Chinese, but not Japanese (and I do most of my business with Japan and Korea).

+1 and I'm Korean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other languages may be in greater demand but it is a demand that is generally filled. The Japanese demand, while smaller, is there. I think it is an underserved niche in this area.

LAMB, YY, and MV have literally hundreds of names on their respective WLs. The demand is demonstrably nowhere near filled.

This is especially true at Oyster. Last year, the school called the 1st kid (PK--English Dom.) from the waitlist in October! I was not far behind (single digits & IB), and I was never called.

[Anonymous]

My take on the language choice of Japanese is that there are no schools or classes, public or private, offered within DC's boundaries geared toward elementary school aged children. Japanese would be another language choice for DC parents. Also, there are kids classes, schools, and programs in DC for all the languages mentioned in this thread geared toward the non-native speaker. If a parent wanted their children to learn Arabic, Chinese, French, or Spanish in DC, there are options. I cannot speak about the number of available seats at the Hebrew school. Maybe there are other issues at play. I think Japanese and Korean are interesting language choices to introduce to DC parents. By the way, Japanese is identified as a Critical Needs language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My take on the language choice of Japanese is that there are no schools or classes, public or private, offered within DC's boundaries geared toward elementary school aged children. Japanese would be another language choice for DC parents. Also, there are kids classes, schools, and programs in DC for all the languages mentioned in this thread geared toward the non-native speaker. If a parent wanted their children to learn Arabic, Chinese, French, or Spanish in DC, there are options. I cannot speak about the number of available seats at the Hebrew school. Maybe there are other issues at play. I think Japanese and Korean are interesting language choices to introduce to DC parents. By the way, Japanese is identified as a Critical Needs language.

So start a Japanese language school with afternoon and weekend classes. The fact that there are none at the moment speaks volumes about the demand for such classes...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a white, high SES resident of Ward six with an infant (so, basically, the demographic you are asking about). I would come to a school in Ward 7 for Spanish or Arabic and maybe French as long as it was well-run and had strong teachers. I wouldn't bother for a language like Japanese. Its too hard to learn and not useful enough.

+1

Frankly, we need more Chinese.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My take on the language choice of Japanese is that there are no schools or classes, public or private, offered within DC's boundaries geared toward elementary school aged children. Japanese would be another language choice for DC parents. Also, there are kids classes, schools, and programs in DC for all the languages mentioned in this thread geared toward the non-native speaker. If a parent wanted their children to learn Arabic, Chinese, French, or Spanish in DC, there are options. I cannot speak about the number of available seats at the Hebrew school. Maybe there are other issues at play. I think Japanese and Korean are interesting language choices to introduce to DC parents. By the way, Japanese is identified as a Critical Needs language.

So start a Japanese language school with afternoon and weekend classes. The fact that there are none at the moment speaks volumes about the demand for such classes...

This gives you an idea of demand for Japanese kids classes. This school is not the only one that has waitlist.

http://jcfourseasons.com/summer_session
http://jcfourseasons.com/fall_session

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My take on the language choice of Japanese is that there are no schools or classes, public or private, offered within DC's boundaries geared toward elementary school aged children. Japanese would be another language choice for DC parents. Also, there are kids classes, schools, and programs in DC for all the languages mentioned in this thread geared toward the non-native speaker. If a parent wanted their children to learn Arabic, Chinese, French, or Spanish in DC, there are options. I cannot speak about the number of available seats at the Hebrew school. Maybe there are other issues at play. I think Japanese and Korean are interesting language choices to introduce to DC parents. By the way, Japanese is identified as a Critical Needs language.

So start a Japanese language school with afternoon and weekend classes. The fact that there are none at the moment speaks volumes about the demand for such classes...

This gives you an idea of demand for Japanese kids classes. This school is not the only one that has waitlist.

http://jcfourseasons.com/summer_session
http://jcfourseasons.com/fall_session

Again, if you're sold on the need then get to work on the supply. Start your school.