Dual Language learning

[Anonymous]

Hi DCUM. I know this comes up on other threads, but wanted some consolidated place to hear about all your experiences with dual language instruction in the city. For context, my rising Kindergartener got a spot at a spanish dual language charter. I'm not sure if this school is the right choice for a number of reasons, but my one holdup is that kids don't get foreign language instruction at our DCPS, and I know that with languages, it really is the earlier the better. So, for those English speaking families with kids starting at K (without Spanish nanny or daycare), how difficult was the transition to a foreign language? For those with older kids, how are they doing when they have to learn material in the target language? I don't want my kid to get shoutier in the next year because he can't understand his teacher. And I don't want him to not learn how to do division because he stopped paying attention because it was a little difficult to understand. But I also don't want him to get his first language instruction in high school where it will be foreign and hard and easy to decide not to do. For context, I would be fully prepared to hire a spanish tutor (we may do that anyway if we turn down the spot) but there is no room for an au pair in our house. Any advice from those parents or people who've BTDT? Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

I teach at a DL school in Va and none of the kids start before K. The English speaking kids that are most successful are those coming from Spanish speaking daycares or have Spanish speaking nannies. It is a LOT of work for students coming from English only houses with limited Spanish exposure. Those that are most successful hire tutors and invest a lot of time in language development. Those that do not put in the extra effort (or don’t have the time, lose interest) don’t really become bilingual and biliterate and often suffer in other areas (particularly writing). If you are willing to do a lot of work it could be rewarding, but definitely be honest with yourself about the amount of time you are willing to spend outside of school.

[Anonymous]

unless you have some preternatural sense that your 5 year old loves loves loves language learning, kid's gonna get shoutier next year. It's frustrating and there is wide variation in uptake across kids. Some just can't be bothered while others just soak it up. If your kid isn't going to be bothered with it, that kid will suck at it. DC PCS and DCPS are not immersive enough to make it happen without you and without your kid actively doing it and reinforcing it.

We have two and the older one is fully switched on in the second language and the second is just NOT.

[Anonymous]

Mine started with dual language in PK4. No nannies, no tutors and English only household. One is above grade level everywhere except Spanish reading. He receives an English accommodation for the subjects taught in Spanish so that he can respond in English. The other is above grade level in all areas, even Spanish reading. Some kids pick it up easier than others. At this point, they can carry on conversations with native speakers. How fluent is the conversation? I have no idea. I don't speak Spanish. But they always get compliments, especially on their accents. So I'd say try it out for a year and see how your kid adjusts. You can always transfer to your neighborhood school if it doesn't go well.

[Anonymous]

Our DS started in K knowing no Spanish at MV8. We don’t speak any Spanish either. But we are committed to supporting DS in and out of school such as Spanish speaking babysitter, camps, future summer immersion in Spanish speaking country, etc...

He is in 1st now and above grade levels in all subjects, on grade level with Spanish. He is doing well.

If your child is doing well currently, tends to pick things up easily, and you are willing to make a commitment to support the language, go for it.

If your child doesn’t fit above description or is behind in school, then no, I wouldn’t do it. The child would struggle with Spanish and all subjects at MV, since K is full immersion. Then starting in 1st, 50% of instruction is in Spanish.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks--really helpful. I guess I just don't know yet at PK4 what sort of student my kid is (especially with half of that from home). I know his teachers say he is really smart, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be good at languages, or patient enough to wade through instances where he only half understands.

When people say, willing to put in the work, I wonder exactly what that means? Hiring a tutor is something I could see doing. Camps in spanish, sure, and vacations. But my spanish used is probably too dusty to be of much use in supporting that portion of the learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks--really helpful. I guess I just don't know yet at PK4 what sort of student my kid is (especially with half of that from home). I know his teachers say he is really smart, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be good at languages, or patient enough to wade through instances where he only half understands.

When people say, willing to put in the work, I wonder exactly what that means? Hiring a tutor is something I could see doing. Camps in spanish, sure, and vacations. But my spanish used is probably too dusty to be of much use in supporting that portion of the learning.

This is what people generally mean by "put in the work." Either someone in the home supports the language or there is supplementary external support in the form of other immersive exposure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks--really helpful. I guess I just don't know yet at PK4 what sort of student my kid is (especially with half of that from home). I know his teachers say he is really smart, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be good at languages, or patient enough to wade through instances where he only half understands.

When people say, willing to put in the work, I wonder exactly what that means? Hiring a tutor is something I could see doing. Camps in spanish, sure, and vacations. But my spanish used is probably too dusty to be of much use in supporting that portion of the learning.

This is what people generally mean by "put in the work." Either someone in the home supports the language or there is supplementary external support in the form of other immersive exposure.

One of the biggest home supports is to have all screen time in the target language. Also, especially when they were younger my kids loved to see that their parents were working and learning at the language as well. (Both of us had done well throughout HS and college in the language but had a lot of work to do to get it back. It was fun to do together).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks--really helpful. I guess I just don't know yet at PK4 what sort of student my kid is (especially with half of that from home). I know his teachers say he is really smart, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be good at languages, or patient enough to wade through instances where he only half understands.

When people say, willing to put in the work, I wonder exactly what that means? Hiring a tutor is something I could see doing. Camps in spanish, sure, and vacations. But my spanish used is probably too dusty to be of much use in supporting that portion of the learning.

This is what people generally mean by "put in the work." Either someone in the home supports the language or there is supplementary external support in the form of other immersive exposure.

One of the biggest home supports is to have all screen time in the target language. Also, especially when they were younger my kids loved to see that their parents were working and learning at the language as well. (Both of us had done well throughout HS and college in the language but had a lot of work to do to get it back. It was fun to do together).

DP: Background: Neither parent of my kid speaks the language, although kid did have "immersion" daycare and bilingual pre-K. Kid is now in K in an immersion program, although this year has been pretty bad for that.

Can I ask what you did as a family for language learning? What programs did you use?

Also how much tutoring? Once a week?


Kid is currently wholly rejecting of the idea of watching shows in Spanish -- anyone have clues on how to grease those wheels?

[Anonymous]

Give them extra screen time but say only if in Spanish. Get the favorite new Disney movie, etc.

[Anonymous]

We have only spoken the target language with DD. All screens are in target language. All books are in target language. Target language speaking au pair. She has picked up some English from friends/family who don’t speak target language, outdoor children’s activities. She’s three. Prior to COVID, she went to daily English-language children’s programming and weekly target language activities. So she’s fluent in the target language, but will start PK3 in an immersion program with little English.

[Anonymous]

So, wife and I are Spanish speakers-wife a heritage/home speaker, me an avid learner as an adult, and spoke with kids only in Spanish until school. Like 3 months later we were having to fight the kids to speak Spanish. That all to say, dont worry that if you speak target language to kid they "won't learn English." The opposite is the struggle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, wife and I are Spanish speakers-wife a heritage/home speaker, me an avid learner as an adult, and spoke with kids only in Spanish until school. Like 3 months later we were having to fight the kids to speak Spanish. That all to say, dont worry that if you speak target language to kid they "won't learn English." The opposite is the struggle.

What are your coping strategies for this? Your kid went to immersion program and now refuses to speak Spanish.

[Anonymous]

We uh keep speaking Spanish regardless of what child does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We uh keep speaking Spanish regardless of what child does.

+1

Maybe not ask for advice on an anon board where people think learning two languages is a special/gifted skill if you are rich but expected if a poor Latino.

There are a lot of resources for raising bilingual kids.