MoCo Immersion programs - is there any reason NOT to try to enroll DC?

[Anonymous]

I'm very new to the concept of immersion programs, and while I'm open to the idea of DC learning in a foreign language, I can't help but be a little hesitant - for no other reason than it's just not how I grew up, I suppose. Everyone says that these are the programs I should be trying to enroll in if I don't want to pay for private school or enroll DC in what is considered a not-so-great elementary school in Montgomery County. Maybe there's a thread out there about this already, but I'm looking for input on the benefits of these programs. I'd also be interested in hearing from anyone who has enrolled their child in one of these programs and how it turned out.

[Anonymous]

These programs all hold open houses. I think that attending will give you a sense as to whether it is the right fit for your family.

[Anonymous]

My kid does immersion in MoCo. We generally think really highly of it. DC is fluent, which we love. However DC's grammar isn't so good because they don't emphasize it very much. So if you speak the language yourself you will be a little disconcerted by all the grammatical mistakes in your kid's "A" essay. But if you take your kid to a country where the language is spoken, they will fit in like a fish in water (as long as they don't have to express themselves in writing).

Some of the problems are common to the rest of MoCo. Specifically, science and social studies are pretty weak. But this can't be blamed on the immersion programs, it's the same old MoCo curriculum translated into Spanish, French or Chinese.

Apparently, the immersion kids generally do worse on the NCLB english test then kids who are doing English. We're told they catch up -- we hope this will be true in the years to come. MoCo doesn't recommend immersion for kids with language difficulties.

PS: we completely agree that it's a good escape valve from your local elementary, if you need to escape.

[Anonymous]

It's only a one page form where you check all the immersions you are interested in and fax it to MCPS offices. There's very little effort to applying. The problem is that, as you may see on other threads, there is a huge demand and only a small percentage of students win the lottery. In most cases there is no advantage to being in the school district that has the immersion program. The fact that a few do offer advantage to neighborhood kids and others don't really ticks me off but that's another thread...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid does immersion in MoCo. We generally think really highly of it. DC is fluent, which we love. However DC's grammar isn't so good because they don't emphasize it very much. So if you speak the language yourself you will be a little disconcerted by all the grammatical mistakes in your kid's "A" essay. But if you take your kid to a country where the language is spoken, they will fit in like a fish in water (as long as they don't have to express themselves in writing).

With respect to this PP, my experience was similar in some respects. I went through the immersion program in MC and agree that my grammar was probably not that great in elementary school, although my spoken abilities were pretty good. However, I kept taking the language and my grammar improved dramatically in high school. I just *knew* when something sounded right or wrong. I don't know how old the PP's child is, but I would not worry so much about the grammar -- the writing proficiency will come if the child sticks with the language.

[Anonymous]

That makes sense. FWIW, I know a fair number of adults whose first language is English and whose grammar could use a lot of work...