Anonymous wrote:What you're missing is that the younger the child learns a foreign language, the more fluent they will be. This will also make it easier for them to learn foreign languages in later years. But if you don't care for foreign languages -- sounds like the best decision for your family is to not participate in these programs at all.

+1

There are also cognitive benefits of learning a second (and third etc.) languages early - connections are drawn that make the brain more flexible/adaptable to other kinds of learning. Learning music provides similar benefits.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/life-bilingual/201401/cognitive-advantages-second-language-immersion-education

http://www.actfl.org/advocacy/discover-languages/for-parents/cognitive

Your post suggests a neighborhood alternative where other neighborhood kids attend. In our neighborhood, most kids do immersion or private, so kids who go to their assigned school don't have a lot of neighborhood classmates.

The other reason they are a big draw is that they are one of the sanctioned ways out of a not so great school. The fact that it is foreign language focused is secondary.

I wonder if the partial immersion programs are worth it?

What you're missing is that the younger the child learns a foreign language, the more fluent they will be. This will also make it easier for them to learn foreign languages in later years. But if you don't care for foreign languages -- sounds like the best decision for your family is to not participate in these programs at all.

Is it just me, I don't understand the allure of these programs. I have talked to a few parents that have had kids there and most do not keep up the language through middle school and high school. Is it really worth it to send your kids away from neighborhood friends? And do the kids learn to read and write in english well enough? Seems like a huge downside for not much upside. What am I missing?