Parents whose kids attended bilingual elementary-- tough adjustment?

[Anonymous]

My daughter is one of the only kids in her bilingual immersion kindergartens with no prior Spanish (except a little Dora). Several of the other English-dominant kids had Spanish-speaking nannies and know at least a little.

Mine is a bright kid, early reader, very intellectually curious, usually not shy.

But she is pretty bowled over by the Spanish so far. Sometimes she's stressed, sometimes tired. She's expressed that it's "too hard" and that she "can't." This is a kid who taught herself to read at 3.5 and whose Pre-K teachers said that she was just great at language, which is something that I can see as her mother.

So I know that she actually CAN do this and I already see glimmers of breakthrough-- she said "bien" to me this morning and then grinned with pride.

But anyway, for parents who sent monolingual kids into a bilingual kindergarten or pre-K 4, when did they get over that "hump?"

I've already gotten advice from her teacher about how to participate and encourage at home, and that is something we're both enjoying.

This is if you've actually experienced it, because I want to know what happened, not what people think of bilingual generally or why it's a good/bad idea theoretically.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Hi-- we started our son in an immersion school in first grade, having very limited exposure to the language. He too had a rough transition. It took 6-8 weeks for him to get over the hump. He was very tired at the end of each day and most often took it out on his younger sister. By the end of the year, he seemed to embrace the language and realized that he knew something that no one else in the family did.

Same situation, my daughter started in first grade, with a bit more exposure and needed about one week to transition.

Different kids will all experience transitions differently.

[Anonymous]

My K daughter started as Yu Ying summer camp, 10 straight days of Chinese immersion and was fairly miserable. First exposure to the language in a camp group with others who were also having their first exposure. She was one of the youngest in the group.

I tried to make sure she had physical exercise right at the end of the day, a healthy early dinner, and an early bedtime.

A week off, then school started with every other day Chinese. Joining a class of 25 where all but 2 were in the school last year. Now in the 5th week of school.

Starting the last 2 days of camp, she was singing Chinese songs at home. Starting 3rd week of school, playing Chinese class with her dolls who respond back to her in Chinese.

The school setting it is helpful that every other day is English.

But, week 5 and it's pretty good, no major complaints.

Several of last year's Yu Ying parents told me their kids took about 8 weeks to adjust. I also heard that several left the school because the adjustment was too much (of course, I've not met them. .. . . )

For me, not doing any Chinese at home has been our strategy (except for homework). If she wants to fine, but I dont' have supplemental materials, etc.

[Anonymous]

Another Yu Ying parent here. A lot of YY parents have made the observations to ourselves and each other that sometimes our children seem more tired on the Chinese days. I can confirm the PP's account that last year it took the children a few weeks (6 to 8, I'd say) to adjust to the routine. I think this year it took my DC a little less time, but that could be just getting back into a familiar groove.

What I find remarkable is how flexible and adaptable their little brains are. If I had to hear and speak Chinese all day every other day, it would take me more than a few weeks to adjust...

[Anonymous]

Our child, with characteristics similar to your child (reading very well, intellectually curious, outgoing) started Spanish immersion at age 4, and was completely exhausted for the first few months. We saw a lot of afterschool and evening grumpiness and a return to napping on weekends. We moved bedtime forward an hour, which was difficult for our schedules but helped a lot.

We didn't hear any negative comments from our child (Spanish is too hard, etc.), but I don't think they are anything to worry about, and I'm sure your child's teachers would agree. Certainly school this year IS harder and more tiring for her. The fact that she's trying out a few words in Spanish at home is a great sign. Does she also sometimes babble in Spanglish (or in complete nonsense language with a Spanish inflection) when she's playing? That will probably happen soon, and will be another really good sign.

We (and our child's teachers) saw a real breakthrough---sudden comprehension, diligent attempts at speaking---a few months into the school year. I think this was on the early side, though, and would not worry at all if you don't see this progress until later in the year. Keep in close touch with her teachers to be sure they are seeing signs of progress.

So: give it time, make sure she gets lots of extra sleep, and limit or drop any extra-curriculars for this first semester, but whatever you do, stick with it! It is SO worth the effort. By kindergarten, you won't believe her progress.

[Anonymous]

What you are experiencing is very common. The range of responses and the learning curve is huge so stick with it. My child started at Oyster pre-K and went through Grade Six. It was a long journey but worth it. The hardest part for DC as DC got older was knowing DC could never speak as well as students with Spanish speaking family members. If you don't already speak Spanish, learn Spanish with your daughter and that will help. I did with my child. Si se puede and all that. DC is really proud of having stuck with the program! DC is in Middle School now. Good luck with it.

[Anonymous]

Oops correction. ARE huge. Argh!

[Anonymous]

My DD started Oyster at K with no Spanish background. She had also demonstrated early language and literacy skills that seemed to help her acquire Spanish. The only adjustment issue we faced was her reluctance to select reading material in Spanish without arm twisting.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks, everyone. I'm learning Spanish by computer and got some Spanish activities to do with DD. We got a boxed set of CDs and activity books that you use together, then play games like "Simon Says" in Spanish. She seems to like that. She also seems to understand much more than she is willing to speak-- but I'm like that too.

It's good to know that this is a normal part of the transition.