Immersion schooling: what outcomes you can expect

[Anonymous]

DH and his two siblings attended an immersion schooling model (in French) similar to many immersion HRCS's here in DC. I think that the example of his family shows the outcomes you can expect from an immersion schooling model.

DH and siblings all still have perfect, near native, accents in French. However, their fluency is highly dependent on how much time they spend using the language in adulthood. DH has only basic to intermediate fluency because he almost never uses his French. His French comes back easily with a great accent but needs much more practice than it ever receives. One sibling has relatively advanced fluency, conversing with a lot of ease - she uses the language a lot with friends who are French. The third sibling has native or near native fluency - he lives in France.

All three siblings have the following common personality characteristics: openness to other cultures, ease in learning second and third foreign languages, interest in people from diverse backgrounds, ability to understand diverse cultural perspectives that are not their own, bicultural in a culture other than their own (but not all French culture), and strong knowledge of world history and geography. They are all really interesting people to talk to because they each have had diverse experiences learning, working, and living in other cultures that are not their own. (Two out of three not in French speaking places). Their parents have none of these characteristics. Parents are wonderful people -- but they never left home and have had little exposure to a language or culture that is not their own. There is a narrowness of thought and unwillingness to accept other perspectives. We (DH and I) attribute the openness and diversity of interests of DH and sibs to the immersion schooling.

My bottom line consideration: send your child to an immersion school because of the person you want them to become, not because of the skill you want them to learn. The exposure to another language, culture and diverse individuals will definitely benefit their character; they may not ever use the language that they learn.

[Anonymous]

Well, except for language fluency, I have all the other characteristics you mention from reading. Not non-fiction, but fiction, which puts you into someone else's head. I do think fluency another with language gives you another way of thinking about the world (on the theory we can't think outside of language so a different language is another way of thinking). But all the cultural literacy and different perspectives stuff can come from being a good old fashioned English major. In fact, I imagine a focus on French literature in their schooling may be the reason for you dh's and their siblings openness?

So take heart those shut of immersion schools. And try to foster of a love of narrative and books in your kids (and down with common core focus on nonfiction).