Immersion ... pros and cons?

[Anonymous]

DC is entering K next year. We really like our zoned school. We are intrigued by the immersion opportunities, though. Neither DH nor I speak a second language, and I think we both consider this to be a disadvantage.

I guess I have two questions for those of you with children who are/were in full immersion programs:

1) Do you think it's worth giving up being at school with neighborhood kids, and fostering those friendships, to do immersion?

2) Have you seen any negative impact on English-language skills from the full immersion program?

(I realize this is all predicated on getting a spot and that nothing is assured.)

Thanks for your time!

[Anonymous]

Depending on your home ES, immersion programs would be worth looking into. But make sure you really check the school- some immersion programs are in schools that I wouldn’t give up a good home school for.

Our DC is in a full immersion program far from our neighborhood and yes, it can be challenging- esp when it comes to play dates and being involved at the school. BUT it is well worth it for us. We still feel part of a community- albeit one that is a little tougher to navigate. The parents are great- many of us are in the same boat in that we live far from the school and have come to rely on each other. Our DC is learning an invaluable tool that will help her succeed. We have noticed her English writing isn’t great. She struggles with spelling as she writes the word the way it sounds which isn’t always correct (we’ve had a tough time explaining the silent k, and why words that sound the same can be spelled multiple ways). But we supplement that with reading lots of English books as well as spelling/language arts worksheets. She does not read English as well as other children in her grade but we were told most kids in immersion eventually catch up by 3rd grade and we think based on what we’ve seen that she will catch up as well. She loves reading in English so we’re not worried.

Good luck getting in. If you don’t get in this time, keep trying. There are quite a few kids who get into the program in later years.

[Anonymous]

I had two kids go through full immersion.

Yes, I thought it was worth it. They do miss out on the friendships in the neighborhood schools but they make friendships in the immersion program, and they end up with most of those immersion kids all the way through the school. Most of the kids live further so you're all pretty much in the same boat.

#2: Yes, but it evens out eventually. I found English spelling and reading speed were most affected, but as they took more English in middle school, it evened out by high school. Some parents panicked in elementary school and pulled the kids out because their English was lagging-- but those that stayed the course graduated high school and many went on to really good colleges.

[Anonymous]

It is mostly an opt out ghetto schools program, if you like your home school just pay for language classes and do the local school. Best of both worlds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is mostly an opt out ghetto schools program, if you like your home school just pay for language classes and do the local school. Best of both worlds

Poster from 17:56 here

Obviously you know little about the program. I sent two kids to one program and my kids were zoned to a “better” home school. One of our kid’s closest friend went to another of the immersion programs (different language) and again zoned out of a “better” school to do it.

After school language classes will not provide the level of fluency that these kids have by doing immersion. The people who send their kids to immersion programs really value bilingualism.

[Anonymous]

Depending on your home ES, immersion programs would be worth looking into. But make sure you really check the school- some immersion programs are in schools that I wouldn’t give up a good home school for.

This is kind of a weird sentiment, becuase I've only heard good things about the schools that host full immersion programs. Sligo Creek, Rock Creek Forest, Maryvale, Rustin, Potomac, etc.

If PP has something to say, I wish they would just spit it out rather than dancing around some presumed issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is mostly an opt out ghetto schools program, if you like your home school just pay for language classes and do the local school. Best of both worlds

Poster from 17:56 here

Obviously you know little about the program. I sent two kids to one program and my kids were zoned to a “better” home school. One of our kid’s closest friend went to another of the immersion programs (different language) and again zoned out of a “better” school to do it.

After school language classes will not provide the level of fluency that these kids have by doing immersion. The people who send their kids to immersion programs really value bilingualism.

Just look at the directory at RCF, at least 90 percent of the immersion kids come from Silver Spring or the Einstein part of Kensington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is mostly an opt out ghetto schools program, if you like your home school just pay for language classes and do the local school. Best of both worlds

Poster from 17:56 here

Obviously you know little about the program. I sent two kids to one program and my kids were zoned to a “better” home school. One of our kid’s closest friend went to another of the immersion programs (different language) and again zoned out of a “better” school to do it.

After school language classes will not provide the level of fluency that these kids have by doing immersion. The people who send their kids to immersion programs really value bilingualism.

Just look at the directory at RCF, at least 90 percent of the immersion kids come from Silver Spring or the Einstein part of Kensington.

I don’t have the directory but I don’t believe that— we are zoned for CCES but were way down the extremely long waitlist for RCF immersion. We tried doing FLES as a substitute and it was a disaster/waste of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is mostly an opt out ghetto schools program, if you like your home school just pay for language classes and do the local school. Best of both worlds

Poster from 17:56 here

Obviously you know little about the program. I sent two kids to one program and my kids were zoned to a “better” home school. One of our kid’s closest friend went to another of the immersion programs (different language) and again zoned out of a “better” school to do it.

After school language classes will not provide the level of fluency that these kids have by doing immersion. The people who send their kids to immersion programs really value bilingualism.

Just look at the directory at RCF, at least 90 percent of the immersion kids come from Silver Spring or the Einstein part of Kensington.

I mean, RCF is literally 100 yards from the Silver Spring line, and a couple miles from Kensington. It is the nearest full immersion program to those neighborhoods, so if a family wants immersion, it makes sense they would apply to RCF rather than a immersion program on the other side of the county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is mostly an opt out ghetto schools program, if you like your home school just pay for language classes and do the local school. Best of both worlds

Poster from 17:56 here

Obviously you know little about the program. I sent two kids to one program and my kids were zoned to a “better” home school. One of our kid’s closest friend went to another of the immersion programs (different language) and again zoned out of a “better” school to do it.

After school language classes will not provide the level of fluency that these kids have by doing immersion. The people who send their kids to immersion programs really value bilingualism.

Just look at the directory at RCF, at least 90 percent of the immersion kids come from Silver Spring or the Einstein part of Kensington.

I mean, RCF is literally 100 yards from the Silver Spring line, and a couple miles from Kensington. It is the nearest full immersion program to those neighborhoods, so if a family wants immersion, it makes sense they would apply to RCF rather than a immersion program on the other side of the county.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is mostly an opt out ghetto schools program, if you like your home school just pay for language classes and do the local school. Best of both worlds

Poster from 17:56 here

Obviously you know little about the program. I sent two kids to one program and my kids were zoned to a “better” home school. One of our kid’s closest friend went to another of the immersion programs (different language) and again zoned out of a “better” school to do it.

After school language classes will not provide the level of fluency that these kids have by doing immersion. The people who send their kids to immersion programs really value bilingualism.

Just look at the directory at RCF, at least 90 percent of the immersion kids come from Silver Spring or the Einstein part of Kensington.

I mean, RCF is literally 100 yards from the Silver Spring line, and a couple miles from Kensington. It is the nearest full immersion program to those neighborhoods, so if a family wants immersion, it makes sense they would apply to RCF rather than a immersion program on the other side of the county.

But it’s also closer to Chevy Chase and Bethesda than any other immersion program and very few kids from either ever attend the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is mostly an opt out ghetto schools program, if you like your home school just pay for language classes and do the local school. Best of both worlds

Poster from 17:56 here

Obviously you know little about the program. I sent two kids to one program and my kids were zoned to a “better” home school. One of our kid’s closest friend went to another of the immersion programs (different language) and again zoned out of a “better” school to do it.

After school language classes will not provide the level of fluency that these kids have by doing immersion. The people who send their kids to immersion programs really value bilingualism.

Just look at the directory at RCF, at least 90 percent of the immersion kids come from Silver Spring or the Einstein part of Kensington.

So not true. (Parent of two RCF kids not from either of those areas).

[Anonymous]

It honestly seems like a better option than most local schools.

[Anonymous]

I have two kids in immersion. They make plenty of friends in immersion. Their English has not suffered.

[Anonymous]

we were in a partial immersion school through elementary (PK4-5th).

(1) I am glad my kids are proficient (not fluent) at a basic level in the language. But I feel like we lost a lot by not being in a neighborhood school. Immersion schools develop their own tight-knit community, but to participate you have to put in the time. If you work long hours or travel a lot you will not be able to do it. If, on the other hand, you have a lot of flexibility in your schedule or have a lot of supplemental help like an au pair or after school sitter or family in the area that can help with transportation, you and the kids will be able to participate more and will get more out of it. For us there was also a cultural overlay so we felt that was an important benefit of the program and worth it for us.
(2) too soon to tell on whether there are long term English consequences. Kids were definitely still on grade level, but their spelling and writing in English is not strong. Hoping middle school helps it even out.

My youngest is not in immersion and I know there is no way that weekend language classes can ever get her to the level my immersion kids are at. It's one thing to learn in an hour of language class a day but our immersion program they spent 7 years going to school every other day in the target language. That's an early comprehension and comfort level that it is hard to replicate otherwise.