Reply to Claremont Spanish Immersion in Arlington

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]There's a big difference between FLES and immersion.  FLES is an early start to a language using traditional foreign language learning methods.  In immersion, you learn by doing.  DC is at Claremont and studies math, science, Spanish language arts, and (depending on the year), art or music in Spanish.  It's really comparing apples and oranges.

Don't get me wrong - I think it's great that Arlington has FLES and hope that all schools eventually get it but we're certainly glad that DC is at an immersion school.  Claremont (and Key) follow the exact same curriculum as any other Arlington elementary school - it's just that half the curriculum is taught in the target language.[/quote]

Right, we understand the difference. We're just saying that there's nothing inherently superior to the immersion approach. The kids still learn the language. There's no extra virtue to immersion. Happy it works for you though.[/quote]

NP here. "Superior" is a loaded word, but make no mistake. Immersion kids are MUCH more likely to actually learn and retain the language than those who get it 3 times a week. Is that "inherent virtue"?  That's up to you.  Certainly there are valid reasons to not do immersion, but I wouldn't rely on FLES as a substitute. They are very different programs. Only you can decide which is best for your kid in keeping with your priorities. [/quote]

Per NP, the difference is huge.  The immersion students learn whole subject areas in Spanish and also get language arts instruction in Spanish.  You can't compare it to FLES.  I think FLES is better than no language instruction but the proficiency outcomes for FLES versus immersion are very different, except for that percentage of kids who either like learning languages and/or have natural language acquisition ability and are able to develop a high level of proficiency later in life.[/quote]

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