Why wouldn't you pick immersion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think people pick immersion because they like the idea of being able to say, "My kid speaks two languages!" It makes their kids sound smarter than your kid .

I have yet to meet an immersion kid (from monolingual family) that actually speaks another language. Sure they can say many words and a few sentences but they aren't really fluent. When I look at the scores (specifically advanced and at LAMB and YY) I don't see kids excelling in the basics. My fear is that the language exposure is actually limiting them. I'm even looking at white only (aka non FARM) and not impressed. So I don't think you can get STEM at immersion (at least not in DC). And yes I have seen the studies (no need for links).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people pick immersion because they like the idea of being able to say, "My kid speaks two languages!" It makes their kids sound smarter than your kid .

I have yet to meet an immersion kid (from monolingual family) that actually speaks another language. Sure they can say many words and a few sentences but they aren't really fluent. When I look at the scores (specifically advanced and at LAMB and YY) I don't see kids excelling in the basics. My fear is that the language exposure is actually limiting them. I'm even looking at white only (aka non FARM) and not impressed. So I don't think you can get STEM at immersion (at least not in DC). And yes I have seen the studies (no need for links).

"No need for links," or facts for that matter. You sound willfully ignorant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people pick immersion because they like the idea of being able to say, "My kid speaks two languages!" It makes their kids sound smarter than your kid .

Do people think that? My maid speaks 2 languages and didn't graduate high school my FIL has 2 PHDs and is monolingual.

I always think this in my head when I see the "monolingual is the new stupid" mantra reposted on DCUM by the kook-aid drinkers.

The guy who cuts my grass in 96 degree weather is also bilingual.

[Anonymous]

Because I think they offer negligible benefits and mant risks. I want teachers to be selected for their subject matter experience and teaching skill, not their language skill. I also want my child to focus on reading, writing, and math in his native language, not a second language. In short, I think immersion is an inferior educational model if you are not already a native speaker at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have yet to meet an immersion kid (from monolingual family) that actually speaks another language.

When I look at the scores (specifically advanced and at LAMB and YY) I don't see kids excelling in the basics.

Stop by Oyster when you have a chance, you'll disabuse yourself from both of those notions.

[Anonymous]

Make that "OF both of those notions"

[Anonymous]

I don't want immersion for my child because I know many people who were exposed to different languages transiently during their childhood. Unless those languages were used regularly and continuously through to the teenage years, the reality is that they are not useful.

Thus I'd prefer to spend instructional time on other things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For people who haven't gone this route, why not? If you didn't rank any immersion schools, or had the choice between one and a "typical" school, what makes people choose something without immersion? Just trying to figure out how someone could not be interested in this component of education.

Who cares? You like immersion? Great! You don't like immersion (or prefer other factors such as location)? Great! To each their own. Why must we start all these angry threads and judge others all the time? Perhaps the DC school system would be better if we all learned to work together rather than judge everyone else who isn't in your school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have yet to meet an immersion kid (from monolingual family) that actually speaks another language.

When I look at the scores (specifically advanced and at LAMB and YY) I don't see kids excelling in the basics.

Stop by Oyster when you have a chance, you'll disabuse yourself from both of those notions.

Oyster is impossible to get into if you are monolingual and OOB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people pick immersion because they like the idea of being able to say, "My kid speaks two languages!" It makes their kids sound smarter than your kid .

I have yet to meet an immersion kid (from monolingual family) that actually speaks another language. Sure they can say many words and a few sentences but they aren't really fluent. When I look at the scores (specifically advanced and at LAMB and YY) I don't see kids excelling in the basics. My fear is that the language exposure is actually limiting them. I'm even looking at white only (aka non FARM) and not impressed. So I don't think you can get STEM at immersion (at least not in DC). And yes I have seen the studies (no need for links).

"No need for links," or facts for that matter. You sound willfully ignorant.

How so? Let me elaborate. All of the "studies" I have seen have no bearing on DC kids. Any way you cut it, immersion in DC (save Oyster) is not all it's cracked up to be. More important to teach reading, math and science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering for those of you who aren't interested in language immersion do you already speak a second language at home or are you not involved really internationally?

Totally involved internationally, eat at Taco Bell at least once a week. Yo quiero and all!



Is that the answer you're looking for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people pick immersion because they like the idea of being able to say, "My kid speaks two languages!" It makes their kids sound smarter than your kid .

I have yet to meet an immersion kid (from monolingual family) that actually speaks another language. Sure they can say many words and a few sentences but they aren't really fluent. When I look at the scores (specifically advanced and at LAMB and YY) I don't see kids excelling in the basics. My fear is that the language exposure is actually limiting them. I'm even looking at white only (aka non FARM) and not impressed. So I don't think you can get STEM at immersion (at least not in DC). And yes I have seen the studies (no need for links).

"No need for links," or facts for that matter. You sound willfully ignorant.

How so? Let me elaborate. All of the "studies" I have seen have no bearing on DC kids. Any way you cut it, immersion in DC (save Oyster) is not all it's cracked up to be. More important to teach reading, math and science.

+1

Few things:

1) My 3.5 yo doesn't listen to me in English--I don't need to deal with him arguing with me in another language.

2) The parents at the all the immersion schools seem to me intense, humorless, self-important and pretentious.

3) At least in the charters and DCPS immersion programs near me, there are hardly ANY spots for PK3. So it's not like we truly have the "option" of immersion education even if it was a priority. It's all luck. Given that, it didn't seem strategically wise for us to rank the immersion schools high in the lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wondering for those of you who aren't interested in language immersion do you already speak a second language at home or are you not involved really internationally?

Totally involved internationally, eat at Taco Bell at least once a week. Yo quiero and all!



Is that the answer you're looking for?

I have a passport, does that count as being involved internationally? I've even used it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think people pick immersion because they like the idea of being able to say, "My kid speaks two languages!" It makes their kids sound smarter than your kid .

I'm at an immersion school, and this is unfortunately true for some (not all) of the parents. Anything to feel superior to others, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wondering for those of you who aren't interested in language immersion do you already speak a second language at home or are you not involved really internationally?

Totally involved internationally, eat at Taco Bell at least once a week. Yo quiero and all!



Is that the answer you're looking for?

I have a passport, does that count as being involved internationally? I've even used it!

I eat at an Indian food truck like, every week!