CMI vs YY for PK3?

[Anonymous]

We've enrolled PK3 at CMI and are #4 on the waitlist at YY. We are extremely interested in immersion, which is why we listed YY and MV higher than CMI. (Husband is native Spanish speaker; stepson's mom is Chinese, so he speaks some Mandarin and Spanish.) I'd appreciate thoughts from those who have kids enrolled as we'll need to make a decision within 24 hours. Particularly interested in school's ability to engage shy kids, and challenge high-achieving kids.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'd enroll at CMI without looking back. YY WL is very unlikely to move four spots and the school isn't all it's cracked up to be. The kids Chinese conversational skills are weak, unless families host aupairs. Few parents know it. Most of the kids speak a strange robotic formal sounding Mandarin with flat tones. You can't discuss YY pros and cons here without being told to shut up and go away because you are a "heritage parent" or "troll." I'm a white Mandarin speaker. We are not returning to YY, moving on to WIS.

[Anonymous]

If you value Mandarin Immersion, then YY is the only place in DC to get it. Some do better than others (having heritage families or an au pair certainly helps). Many others hire tutors. Regardless, it comes down to what you really want. If you want Mandarin Immersion, then pursue it. What I don't understand is why you have to make a decision within 24 hours - school hasn't started yet. Is CMI saying that you have to commit now? If I understand the lottery correctly, you can accept CMI, you're still on the WL for MV and YY so what's the rush?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you value Mandarin Immersion, then YY is the only place in DC to get it. Some do better than others (having heritage families or an au pair certainly helps). Many others hire tutors. Regardless, it comes down to what you really want. If you want Mandarin Immersion, then pursue it. What I don't understand is why you have to make a decision within 24 hours - school hasn't started yet. Is CMI saying that you have to commit now? If I understand the lottery correctly, you can accept CMI, you're still on the WL for MV and YY so what's the rush?

Not OP - but she is saying that if/when they get a call from YY they'd have just 24 hours to accept or stay at CMI.

[Anonymous]

If language immersion is your priority then this is what you should do if you get the opportunity, otherwise you will never be happy. I say this as someone who did not prioritize immersion and we are at a HRCS where parents who wanted language immersion but did not get in continue to complain about not having it and play the lottery each year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've enrolled PK3 at CMI and are #4 on the waitlist at YY. We are extremely interested in immersion, which is why we listed YY and MV higher than CMI. (Husband is native Spanish speaker; stepson's mom is Chinese, so he speaks some Mandarin and Spanish.) I'd appreciate thoughts from those who have kids enrolled as we'll need to make a decision within 24 hours. Particularly interested in school's ability to engage shy kids, and challenge high-achieving kids.

That seems like an odd question, OP. I've known lots of shy and high-achieving kids at YY who are socially engaged and intellectually challenged. I wouldn't say that's how their parents described them when they were 3 y.o. though. Overall, I think it's a great environment for children to receive an extra educational boost. The cognitive benefits of bilingualism, and learning a second language early have been researched, it benefits more than just the language centers of the brain.

My DCs class has a few children with one or more parents who speak Chinese and are happy with Yu Ying. It's too bad about the other poster's experience but you can't please everyone. Some you're better off without.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like two great options. We find that YY provides plenty of challenge for our children so far (oldest is going into second grade).

It's common for people to pick on the quality of kids' Chinese, and I agree that it's all over the place, even within the same classroom. Heritage speakers and kids with Chinese nannies and au pairs stand out. But some kids just aren't that good at languages, and Chinese is very difficult for English speakers. We are lucky in that our oldest seems to have an aptitude for languages and has done really well with the Chinese. We also supplement Chinese at home as much as possible and hired a summer tutor who is very pleased with his conversational skills (writing is another story!). However, there are plenty of YY families whose goals are not perfect Chinese, but rather a solid introduction that will enable kids to opt for more intensive study later.

YY also has many other wonderful qualities, including a great inquiry curriculum, excellent aftercare, an involved and friendly parent group, nice campus, middle and high school feed, etc. I've heard fantastic things about CMI as well, so it sounds like you are in a win-win situation. Hope you have a great year!

[Anonymous]

If language immersion is your priority then this is what you should do if you get the opportunity, otherwise you will never be happy. I say this as someone who did not prioritize immersion and we are at a HRCS where parents who wanted language immersion but did not get in continue to complain about not having it and play the lottery each year.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like two great options. We find that YY provides plenty of challenge for our children so far (oldest is going into second grade).

It's common for people to pick on the quality of kids' Chinese, and I agree that it's all over the place, even within the same classroom. Heritage speakers and kids with Chinese nannies and au pairs stand out. But some kids just aren't that good at languages, and Chinese is very difficult for English speakers. We are lucky in that our oldest seems to have an aptitude for languages and has done really well with the Chinese. We also supplement Chinese at home as much as possible and hired a summer tutor who is very pleased with his conversational skills (writing is another story!). However, there are plenty of YY families whose goals are not perfect Chinese, but rather a solid introduction that will enable kids to opt for more intensive study later.

YY also has many other wonderful qualities, including a great inquiry curriculum, excellent aftercare, an involved and friendly parent group, nice campus, middle and high school feed, etc. I've heard fantastic things about CMI as well, so it sounds like you are in a win-win situation. Hope you have a great year!

We don't have the resources to supplement/support at home. What percentage of YY parents do you think do tutors/au pairs?

[Anonymous]

We got into both and accepted at CMI. I sometimes think - what if...but I like CMI and really enjoy the school and culture. I know the parents at YY feel similarly about that school.

For us, while we really cared about bilingual education (YY is not immersion, it's bilingual school) we cared more about the type of program and leadership of the schools. After meeting both leaders, CMI's program looked like a better fit for our child.

Good luck! Both are really amazing schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like two great options. We find that YY provides plenty of challenge for our children so far (oldest is going into second grade).

It's common for people to pick on the quality of kids' Chinese, and I agree that it's all over the place, even within the same classroom. Heritage speakers and kids with Chinese nannies and au pairs stand out. But some kids just aren't that good at languages, and Chinese is very difficult for English speakers. We are lucky in that our oldest seems to have an aptitude for languages and has done really well with the Chinese. We also supplement Chinese at home as much as possible and hired a summer tutor who is very pleased with his conversational skills (writing is another story!). However, there are plenty of YY families whose goals are not perfect Chinese, but rather a solid introduction that will enable kids to opt for more intensive study later.

YY also has many other wonderful qualities, including a great inquiry curriculum, excellent aftercare, an involved and friendly parent group, nice campus, middle and high school feed, etc. I've heard fantastic things about CMI as well, so it sounds like you are in a win-win situation. Hope you have a great year!

We don't have the resources to supplement/support at home. What percentage of YY parents do you think do tutors/au pairs?

Every single YY parent I know (has tutors/au pairs) I'd say at least 8 or 9 families. One of the families in the older grades says is very much needed (and the camps over the summer so not to lose the language).

[Anonymous]

Interesting. Most of the parents I know do not have au pairs or tutors. Some use Chinese apps and movies. The school makes a real effort to provide supplemental materials - Chinese reading apps, aftercare choices in Chinese, etc. that are free. I teach myself the three and four skilled characters and drill my kids myself. There are also camps and weekend classes that are not free, but certainly not as pricey as tutoring or as involved as an au pair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. Most of the parents I know do not have au pairs or tutors. Some use Chinese apps and movies. The school makes a real effort to provide supplemental materials - Chinese reading apps, aftercare choices in Chinese, etc. that are free. I teach myself the three and four skilled characters and drill my kids myself. There are also camps and weekend classes that are not free, but certainly not as pricey as tutoring or as involved as an au pair.

Are they in the younger grades (1st and under?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. Most of the parents I know do not have au pairs or tutors. Some use Chinese apps and movies. The school makes a real effort to provide supplemental materials - Chinese reading apps, aftercare choices in Chinese, etc. that are free. I teach myself the three and four skilled characters and drill my kids myself. There are also camps and weekend classes that are not free, but certainly not as pricey as tutoring or as involved as an au pair.

Are they in the younger grades (1st and under?)

I estimate that 5% of YY/DCI families have at least one adult Mandarin speaker speaking Chinese consistently to the kids, and requiring that they answer in it. Most YY "heritage" parents speak/accept English to kids, and families hosting Chinese au pairs generally let them speak/accept English. So-called heritage parents are generally too assimilated to identify as American Born Chinese (ABCs).

Native-speaking Chinese kids (whose Chinese-speaking parents don't speak English to them) almost never attend YY. They are the children of Chinese-speaking diplomats (generally at DCPS schools WotP) or from families using MoCo heritage Chinese schools (including the small Chinatown crowd). Maybe 20% of YY parents hire tutors and Mandarin-speaking babysitters, either on a regular basis or occasionally. Some do this and don't talk about it. Kids can earn high Chinese grades without speaking good Mandarin all the way through. YY certainly has its pluses, but upper grades kids can't speak the target language like at Oyster, LAMB, Mundo Verde etc. unless parents supplement aggressively by hiring native-speaking help year in and year out. Wish it were different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. Most of the parents I know do not have au pairs or tutors. Some use Chinese apps and movies. The school makes a real effort to provide supplemental materials - Chinese reading apps, aftercare choices in Chinese, etc. that are free. I teach myself the three and four skilled characters and drill my kids myself. There are also camps and weekend classes that are not free, but certainly not as pricey as tutoring or as involved as an au pair.

Are they in the younger grades (1st and under?)

I estimate that 5% of YY/DCI families have at least one adult Mandarin speaker speaking Chinese consistently to the kids, and requiring that they answer in it. Most YY "heritage" parents speak/accept English to kids, and families hosting Chinese au pairs generally let them speak/accept English. So-called heritage parents are generally too assimilated to identify as American Born Chinese (ABCs).

Native-speaking Chinese kids (whose Chinese-speaking parents don't speak English to them) almost never attend YY. They are the children of Chinese-speaking diplomats (generally at DCPS schools WotP) or from families using MoCo heritage Chinese schools (including the small Chinatown crowd). Maybe 20% of YY parents hire tutors and Mandarin-speaking babysitters, either on a regular basis or occasionally. Some do this and don't talk about it. Kids can earn high Chinese grades without speaking good Mandarin all the way through. YY certainly has its pluses, but upper grades kids can't speak the target language like at Oyster, LAMB, Mundo Verde etc. unless parents supplement aggressively by hiring native-speaking help year in and year out. Wish it were different.

Yes, learning Chinese in a DC public charter school is much more difficult than learning Spanish, but wishing it were different is not going to make it so.