3 new language immersion schools next year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fear mongering in this thread is incredible.

My kid is at OTES and we are thrilled with the two-way immersion. We need a bigger house but we're staying for the school.

If it wasn't going well (and this happens for very, very few kids, it is by no means hit or miss) there's an alternative English-only school we could go to.

It's great that they're expanding this, actually.

MCPS has been teaching reading wrong for at least 15 years according to the current Elem ELA director. I guarantee doing in 2 languages just makes it worse for kids who only speak English. My kid has dyslexia and dysgraphia. Our Title 1 school can’t follow her IEP as it is. Making the school an immersion school just complicates the issue.

It is not only MCPS that has been teaching reading wrong: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F0tcUMXBFMGMe8w79MM5QCI%3Fsi%3DT8EpfD7zT3OS9ynw210NNQ%26fbclid%3DIwAR0rtVl91orTSiRW7DKEIIrL1a_HWdxlZbKEGQQ5_-PjYB3UDEwiYVA8iFE&h=AT2RtJcw0UQ1kP-9A1UBGY5AdbKmXPLivij-pRyK-gi-rPLge0vc5OxFUsGMpbvtOKwvW-9FJAIOzHZlOiO0dTEKXKCvRElGO8nsxX3ymM8jxech7zOUJ_byTTgN8Wsvmw&__tn__=%2CmH-R&c[0]=AT3SxSAb8SHLhw77FsjwfOAPpDWl2YzV7vYP0Yvqwu5UrLzydJ7l3ADSMEkSBf1VX5z9qKNkY9W-FqVEYujAvOZZnxdbDJTdTTaddWuqtctmOFFXfpADQDbA6VD6acA6PnOiQkSIbcVLpUKgxLHU7lIYUwUPsPH3fa0V2idTsycacvPSvEeFGA

Sorry, link went wrong: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tcUMXBFMGMe8w79MM5QCI?si=T8EpfD7zT3OS9ynw210NNQ&fbclid=IwAR10FbH7xY_gYxb7we8_L6bgPjpf0ghNZF1VdB92Xe0WLVt02Cg8ZkIlQKw&nd=1

Montgomery County has since switched to teaching phonics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should just offer a language class a few days a week like they so specials but more often for all kids.

That’s not really the point of these programs though- a big part of it is being inclusive for native-Spanish speakers. They get to learn in both Spanish and English. So a special a couple times a week wouldn’t really benefit them.

I get what you’re saying though- it’s very common in European countries for primary school kids to receive instruction in English and other languages several times per week. They pick it up so much faster at that age.

It's kind of a chicken-egg effect though. In general, language instruction in this country is not conducive to producing proficient bilingual speakers. Of those I know who are proficient in a second language, all either were born or lived in a foreign country or had a parent who spoke their native language at home. So there aren't enough kids choosing this path in college and becoming foreign language teachers. Where would MCPS find all the teachers to offer even limited instruction at all schools? Maybe more immersion opportunities will inspire more students to follow that path.

Not to mention, we need to spend more time on reading and math in this country than our European counterparts because Americans have fallen behind.

You understand that reading and math are both taught in the immersion language at an immersion school in MCPS?

Yes, but the standardized test are only in English.

Actually, the full immersion Spanish kids take the MAP in Spanish, for what it is worth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our neighborhood school, Oakland Terrace, has done it with very positive reviews from parents. Yes, it was phased in starting with kindergartners the first year.

OTES is our school too! Both my kids have loved it. Grades 3 and 4 at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should just offer a language class a few days a week like they so specials but more often for all kids.

That’s not really the point of these programs though- a big part of it is being inclusive for native-Spanish speakers. They get to learn in both Spanish and English. So a special a couple times a week wouldn’t really benefit them.

I get what you’re saying though- it’s very common in European countries for primary school kids to receive instruction in English and other languages several times per week. They pick it up so much faster at that age.

It's kind of a chicken-egg effect though. In general, language instruction in this country is not conducive to producing proficient bilingual speakers. Of those I know who are proficient in a second language, all either were born or lived in a foreign country or had a parent who spoke their native language at home. So there aren't enough kids choosing this path in college and becoming foreign language teachers. Where would MCPS find all the teachers to offer even limited instruction at all schools? Maybe more immersion opportunities will inspire more students to follow that path.

Not to mention, we need to spend more time on reading and math in this country than our European counterparts because Americans have fallen behind.

You understand that reading and math are both taught in the immersion language at an immersion school in MCPS?

Yes, but the standardized test are only in English.

Serious question. Am I supposed to care about these standardized tests? Because I do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fear mongering in this thread is incredible.

My kid is at OTES and we are thrilled with the two-way immersion. We need a bigger house but we're staying for the school.

If it wasn't going well (and this happens for very, very few kids, it is by no means hit or miss) there's an alternative English-only school we could go to.

It's great that they're expanding this, actually.

Yeah we are at flora singer, which is great, but I’m definitely a bit envious of the program at OTES. If only we’d had a crystal ball when house shopping 10 years ago!

I wish we didn't buy in OTES. It wasn't the best experience. Hopefully the new principal is better but she wasn't great as a VP.

There is one poster who always trashes OTES and the old principal.

Sorry you had a bad experience. Move on, though.

i was thinking the same thing! She has been on here for the 4years I have been reading DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You think this is a... bad thing for your English-speaking kids? I've been half-tempted to move to get mine into a dual immersion program. Learning a language and becoming bilingual is such an amazing life skill! (And to get to do it in your own neighborhood school rather than being bussed to some far-away immersion program with kids who are scattered all over the place! And to not have to feel bad about scooping up the bilingual teachers for English-speaking kids but instead knowing Spanish-speaking kids get to benefit too!)

Also wish my kids had easy access to an immersion school. I think it’s disappointing as well that foreign language isn’t a standard subject in all elementary schools in the county (whether or not immersion). Research is pretty clear that 1) foreign language is learned better at younger ages; 2) kids who learn more than one language end up better at both languages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You think this is a... bad thing for your English-speaking kids? I've been half-tempted to move to get mine into a dual immersion program. Learning a language and becoming bilingual is such an amazing life skill! (And to get to do it in your own neighborhood school rather than being bussed to some far-away immersion program with kids who are scattered all over the place! And to not have to feel bad about scooping up the bilingual teachers for English-speaking kids but instead knowing Spanish-speaking kids get to benefit too!)

My English speaking child can’t read or write on par with MCPS standards. Any second language will just make things worse.

This. My DS is in an immersion program and doing fine. But learning a 2nd language is not worth it if your kid is struggling in English because the amount of time spend on ELA instruction is significantly less, up to 50% less.

Learning to read and write is a basic essential. Learning Spanish is not. If my kid was struggling in English at all, I would pull him out of immersion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You think this is a... bad thing for your English-speaking kids? I've been half-tempted to move to get mine into a dual immersion program. Learning a language and becoming bilingual is such an amazing life skill! (And to get to do it in your own neighborhood school rather than being bussed to some far-away immersion program with kids who are scattered all over the place! And to not have to feel bad about scooping up the bilingual teachers for English-speaking kids but instead knowing Spanish-speaking kids get to benefit too!)

My English speaking child can’t read or write on par with MCPS standards. Any second language will just make things worse.

This. My DS is in an immersion program and doing fine. But learning a 2nd language is not worth it if your kid is struggling in English because the amount of time spend on ELA instruction is significantly less, up to 50% less.

Learning to read and write is a basic essential. Learning Spanish is not. If my kid was struggling in English at all, I would pull him out of immersion.

This. Especially as the translating software gets even better and better. No way your kid will learn every language out there, and it’s so easy to use Google Translate or Say Hi, that being bilingual will be less of a draw in the coming decades.

However, Learning solid Math and Writing skills (in English) will always be necessary.

[Anonymous]

Call it what it actually is: a gimmick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call it what it actually is: a gimmick.

IDK. Our third-grader is fluent in a language no one else in our family has spoken for generations. Doesn’t seem like a gimmick to me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Call it what it actually is: a gimmick.

IDK. Our third-grader is fluent in a language no one else in our family has spoken for generations. Doesn’t seem like a gimmick to me!

Which school does your 3rd grader attend? And, which language?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You think this is a... bad thing for your English-speaking kids? I've been half-tempted to move to get mine into a dual immersion program. Learning a language and becoming bilingual is such an amazing life skill! (And to get to do it in your own neighborhood school rather than being bussed to some far-away immersion program with kids who are scattered all over the place! And to not have to feel bad about scooping up the bilingual teachers for English-speaking kids but instead knowing Spanish-speaking kids get to benefit too!)

My English speaking child can’t read or write on par with MCPS standards. Any second language will just make things worse.

This. My DS is in an immersion program and doing fine. But learning a 2nd language is not worth it if your kid is struggling in English because the amount of time spend on ELA instruction is significantly less, up to 50% less.

Learning to read and write is a basic essential. Learning Spanish is not. If my kid was struggling in English at all, I would pull him out of immersion.

This. Especially as the translating software gets even better and better. No way your kid will learn every language out there, and it’s so easy to use Google Translate or Say Hi, that being bilingual will be less of a draw in the coming decades.

However, Learning solid Math and Writing skills (in English) will always be necessary.

PP here, disagree about bilingual part. Goggle translate is limited and you are not truly conversing in another language. You are looking at a screen passing it back and forth. It’s not truly conversing in a natural way and there are many mistakes in the translation.

Being bilingual (esp Spanish) is definitely an asset especially if you are in a service field (business, medicine, law, sales, etc..).

Immersion and learning another language is a good challenge for an above average kid where school comes easy. They learn that they actually need to work at something and that it can be hard especially the reading and writing in the target language. That’s a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our neighborhood school, Oakland Terrace, has done it with very positive reviews from parents. Yes, it was phased in starting with kindergartners the first year.

From what I hear it's hit or miss depending on the student. Some do well with it, others not. I know several parents who did a COSA out.

It will be even more hit-or-miss when they roll it out in more schools. It’s hard to find good, qualified teachers that can fit the bill.

Agree with the PP that MCPS barely does a good job of teaching in ONE language. The lack of solid grammar and writing instruction at our Focus ES is discouraging and disappointing.

As usual, MCPS is trying to be trendy, but it is unlikely that MCPS will execute this well.

For 3.2 billion a year…absolutely comical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You think this is a... bad thing for your English-speaking kids? I've been half-tempted to move to get mine into a dual immersion program. Learning a language and becoming bilingual is such an amazing life skill! (And to get to do it in your own neighborhood school rather than being bussed to some far-away immersion program with kids who are scattered all over the place! And to not have to feel bad about scooping up the bilingual teachers for English-speaking kids but instead knowing Spanish-speaking kids get to benefit too!)

My English speaking child can’t read or write on par with MCPS standards. Any second language will just make things worse.

This. My DS is in an immersion program and doing fine. But learning a 2nd language is not worth it if your kid is struggling in English because the amount of time spend on ELA instruction is significantly less, up to 50% less.

Learning to read and write is a basic essential. Learning Spanish is not. If my kid was struggling in English at all, I would pull him out of immersion.

This. Especially as the translating software gets even better and better. No way your kid will learn every language out there, and it’s so easy to use Google Translate or Say Hi, that being bilingual will be less of a draw in the coming decades.

However, Learning solid Math and Writing skills (in English) will always be necessary.

I think this attitude about learning languages other than English is a lot of what gets Americans a bad reputation abroad for being insular and uninterested in other cultures, making an effort when traveling, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Call it what it actually is: a gimmick.

IDK. Our third-grader is fluent in a language no one else in our family has spoken for generations. Doesn’t seem like a gimmick to me!

And what did they miss learning in English? It catches up with them in middle school.