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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]
No I think they are getting exposure. I would guess by the end of elementary they could travel to the country and get around a bit like a tourist. Yes, I think it's easier to learn a language in high school with some exposure in elementary and middle school. [/quote]

Here's a little experience:

I taught in DOD schools.  We had foreign language instruction twice a week in the elementary school.  Living in the foreign country, that is right and appropriate.

The only kids who learned to speak the language were the kids who lived "on the economy" and played with kids who spoke that particular language.
The ones who lived on the  military post rarely learned the language.  Even the ones whose parents travelled with them and shopped outside the commissary.  A handful were pretty adept with the foreign currency if they ventured across the road to the host nation candy store.

Sure, it was a good thing for these kids to have the exposure and opportunity.  But, if kids living in the country didn't learn the language with two thirty minute sessions a week, what good do you think it will do our kids here?

I do believe that foreign language instruction is a good thing.  However, I think there are many more places that would give our kids more value for the money spent.

If the goal is exposure--we have plenty of parents who could come in and share their own language.
If the goal is culture--ditto.  I find it hard to believe that the teachers could not ask parents to come in and share their own experience of growing up in another country.  I suppose there could be some classrooms in Fairfax Country with only American born parents, but I would think it highly unlikely.

Also, if Fairfax is going to do this, it seems to me there ought to be some consistency--or choice.  Think about it, Spanish instruction in a school where lots of kids already speak Spanish seems a little redundant.  Ditto, Chinese, Korean, Arabic.
Make this an afterschool program.  Take your kid to language classes instead of soccer practice if that is your wish.

[/quote]

The reason they have Spanish in primarily Spanish speaking schools is to cut down on ESOL costs and also to create a less divisive community by teaching all students some Spanish. It's a win for county taxpayers due to cost and a win for all the students at the school.

Many people I know with only a little exposure ended up working overseas. You don't need to be perfectly fluent to get an overseas job or be able to converse here with other foreigners which I think is the goal of the program. There's a reason it isn't called immersion. FLES is very similar to most private schools that offer Spanish or French 1-2 days a week.[/quote]

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