Does anyone have language immersion regrets?

[Anonymous]

Our child is going to be in PK3 so we’ve been researching schools around us. Originally we prioritized language immersion, but after visiting several neighborhood public schools and non immersion schools we’re not so sure about immersion. It seems like these schools are really hard to get into anyway, but has anyone regretted sending their child to an immersion school?

[Anonymous]

I sent my child to an immersion school that was not well-managed and we ended up leaving because pretty much everything was suffering. Disorganized, facility issues, teachers leaving, etc. I can't say my child learned or retained much of the target language. So yeah, I kind of regret it. I wish we could be at a well-operated immersion school ut so far, no lottery luck.

[Anonymous]

No regrets. Stick with it. Kids are like sponges.

[Anonymous]

No regrets- but it requires a lot of support, even if a native speaker! Definitely go in with a long term goal/growth mindset, and don't expect too many early rewards.

[Anonymous]

My three year old is at an immersion school. We don’t speak Spanish and neither did our DC. Our DC has been there for less than six months and the amount of Spanish he has learned is simply phenomenal. It is just incredible. He understands everything. Kids that age pick up language very quickly. We were worried it would be a rough transition but it has been anything but. We are so glad he’s there.

[Anonymous]

My colleague had some regrets in that a) they spoke the language at home and felt they probably could have gotten their kid up to some level of proficiency naturally (though not as high) and b) sending them to immersion required outside assistance (tutors, etc) to keep them at the high level that was expected, and that took away from time they could have spent on other activities / sports, etc.

[Anonymous]

I don't regret it, but I do think it takes time and resources away from other things and you should think about whether you like that tradeoff. I wish there were a good science-focused or performing arts elementary that I couls get into.

[Anonymous]

I have heard from a few people who feel that the amount of time/effort their child spends on learning he new language, takes away from other areas. They felt that their children were not as strong in Math/Reading in English- as compared to how they would have been in a non-immersion school. That being said, they still felt the pros outweighed the cons- and believed that this dip in ability would eventually even out.

[Anonymous]

I went to one as a K'er many years ago and it was really hard on me; I cried a lot at school and brought it up for years afterward. (I'm over it now, LOL). I found it very confusing and had a lot of fear about how to ask for something I needed in the target language--even as an adult the memories are unusually strong and negative. I have no idea if it helped me re-learn the language later, but it may have. I have no idea if other kids at the school felt the same way or if I was unusual.

[Anonymous]

I think those who are most likely to regret it are families who kind of walk in blind, and don't know how much work it can be to support, and how it may be a rough adjustment, especially for kids who are shy or have a rough time with transitions.

My kid is shy, but we did a lot of "prep work" (summer immersion camps, etc.) to get ready for the new immersion school, so it was a pretty easy transition.

[Anonymous]

The families I know who have regretted it (and in one case pulled the kid), the regret really settled in during upper elementary grades where shit gets real in terms of having to learn actual content in Spanish. Or non-Spanish speakers have to attempt to help a kid do 4th/5th grade math in Spanish.

I also wouldn't bother in a school district where they don't have an option to continue past 5th grade.

[Anonymous]

I truly feel that if you prioritize immersion, you should actually really prioritize it. I mean, care about it. Have a reason for choosing it. It shouldn't just be a "nice to have". If you as a parent don't speak the language nor have any exposure to the language, you should have a strong desire to learn and support it in your household. I realize this is not a popular opinion.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher in a district that has a large immersion program, I would not recommend it. The students really can suffer long term consequences by coming through weak in both languages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The families I know who have regretted it (and in one case pulled the kid), the regret really settled in during upper elementary grades where shit gets real in terms of having to learn actual content in Spanish. Or non-Spanish speakers have to attempt to help a kid do 4th/5th grade math in Spanish.

I also wouldn't bother in a school district where they don't have an option to continue past 5th grade.

Same here. I know a few families who did immersion in languages they don't speak and feel like it wasn't worth it--they couldn't help their kid with his homework because it was in the target language, and they didn't realize that their kid's language skills weren't up to doing science or whatever until the kid was already floundering.

Others were happy with it, but I think you have to talk to someone whose kids are into 5th grade or middle school to see how it really played out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our child is going to be in PK3 so we’ve been researching schools around us. Originally we prioritized language immersion, but after visiting several neighborhood public schools and non immersion schools we’re not so sure about immersion. It seems like these schools are really hard to get into anyway, but has anyone regretted sending their child to an immersion school?

Many people regret sending their kids to a bad school, immersion or not.

We frankly don't know anyone who regrets sending their kids to a good immersion school -- but, yes, it's not easy to get into one.