Jealous of a friends’ kids’ extracurricular

[Anonymous]

OP: Did your friend’s kid(s) have time for other activities or hobbies they liked? It sounds tiring to spend a few hours every Saturday this way, in addition to homework and study time! I personally know lots of people who are truly bilingual in two totally different languages so I’m puzzled as to why this is so special. People in most other countries would trade for an opportunity to get an internship in the States. So why is getting an internship in some country whose economy is not nearly as good as ours such a big deal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Our kids are bilingual and take our home in high school at one level higher than most peers and are doing well. Our friends, also with bilingual kids, enrolled their children in a Saturday language school, where the kids get what is essentially a second high school diploma from the home country. This has allowed their children to take a different language in school, meaning their kids are trilingual and they have a truly impressive extracurricular that shows commitment (the language school is intense) and has shaped their children’s entire narrative (the kid volunteered for a summer in the home country, has an internship next summer with an developing markets investment firm focusing on a part of the world using our language, etc.

I’m just kicking myself because if I had thought through this 10 years ago, I feel my child would be in a much better position college application wise. These friends had asked if we would be interested in doing the Saturday school with them, but it conflicted with sports and travel and our kid plays hs soccer but certainly isn’t going to get recruited.

Just a vent, but feeling like my past self let my high schooler down.

I think it is a good cautionary tale. Immigrants should make a serious attempt to make sure that their kids do not lose their native language. Mastery in the native language will open opportunities for them for rest of their lives.

When non-English speakers become American citizens, they should strive for double benefit of getting the best of the American experience and getting the best of their country of origin experience. That way they are in a position to give to themselves and also this country. Don't lose your natural heritage.

It doesn’t matter as much as you think it does. You kid is likely to rarely us it.

I completely disagree. Being fluent in other languages means that a whole new world of job opportunities, culture, art, literature, theatre, cinema opens up for you.

Its like saying that sports or music lessons are a waste because you will rarely use it. LOL.

NP.

I think it’s good to be bilingual and plus, it can help later.

Our kid is still a toddler but she’s going to be bilingual in my wife’s language (it’s an Asian language). She talks with DD and she understands it ok.

Not wasting our Saturdays (plus all that $$) on an unnecessary language school. Some of you folks seem kinda over the top, TBH.

Careful, your kid is a toddler.

Once she hits school, she'll end up like me. I can understand rudimentary heritage language but am by no means bilingual.

Unless you actively pursue the language, she will lose it. That's usually how it works out. Not saying you should. My parents didn't and I have no regrets.

+2 It takes a lot of work to be truely fluent. My spouse was raised in the US with his mother speaking to him in the native language and while he understands the language, he doesn't speak it well (he always answered his mom in English). He also has difficulty understanding news broadcasts in the language.

Seriously? I really don’t see why my DD cant just pick up the language from my wife. One parent, one language, is what I kept reading on google.

Plus, we visited the in laws last summer and DD seemed to understand ok. I think she will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: Did your friend’s kid(s) have time for other activities or hobbies they liked? It sounds tiring to spend a few hours every Saturday this way, in addition to homework and study time! I personally know lots of people who are truly bilingual in two totally different languages so I’m puzzled as to why this is so special. People in most other countries would trade for an opportunity to get an internship in the States. So why is getting an internship in some country whose economy is not nearly as good as ours such a big deal?

Because T20 AO's put a tremendous amount of value in this. It checks all their boxes and gives a massive leg up in admissions.

Worked for both our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: Did your friend’s kid(s) have time for other activities or hobbies they liked? It sounds tiring to spend a few hours every Saturday this way, in addition to homework and study time! I personally know lots of people who are truly bilingual in two totally different languages so I’m puzzled as to why this is so special. People in most other countries would trade for an opportunity to get an internship in the States. So why is getting an internship in some country whose economy is not nearly as good as ours such a big deal?

Because T20 AO's put a tremendous amount of value in this. It checks all their boxes and gives a massive leg up in admissions.

Worked for both our kids.

But they could have spent the time more wisely on another endeavor and might have gotten into HYPSM. Just saying 😉

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: Did your friend’s kid(s) have time for other activities or hobbies they liked? It sounds tiring to spend a few hours every Saturday this way, in addition to homework and study time! I personally know lots of people who are truly bilingual in two totally different languages so I’m puzzled as to why this is so special. People in most other countries would trade for an opportunity to get an internship in the States. So why is getting an internship in some country whose economy is not nearly as good as ours such a big deal?

Because T20 AO's put a tremendous amount of value in this. It checks all their boxes and gives a massive leg up in admissions.

Worked for both our kids.

You have no idea what AOs value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: Did your friend’s kid(s) have time for other activities or hobbies they liked? It sounds tiring to spend a few hours every Saturday this way, in addition to homework and study time! I personally know lots of people who are truly bilingual in two totally different languages so I’m puzzled as to why this is so special. People in most other countries would trade for an opportunity to get an internship in the States. So why is getting an internship in some country whose economy is not nearly as good as ours such a big deal?

Because T20 AO's put a tremendous amount of value in this. It checks all their boxes and gives a massive leg up in admissions.

Worked for both our kids.

You have no idea what AOs value.

And you do? LOL!

[Anonymous]

This is like hearing about your friend whose kid started lacrosse at age 7 and is now being recruited by Harvard. Lots of kids start lax young and they don't all get recruited. No guarantee your kid would have been as dedicated as your friend's kid and if your kid was as dedicated, he or she likely would have found another thing to focus on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is like hearing about your friend whose kid started lacrosse at age 7 and is now being recruited by Harvard. Lots of kids start lax young and they don't all get recruited. No guarantee your kid would have been as dedicated as your friend's kid and if your kid was as dedicated, he or she likely would have found another thing to focus on.

That’s also true.