You'd be a fool to give up on Yu Ying.

-a parent at a different immersion school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, PP. Simplified Chinese is fine with me. I'm just wondering if YY can really attract and retain teachers who are both native Chinese speakers and great at teaching math or whatever academic subject they teach, given the much smaller pool of candidates they have to choose from, compared to a strong DCPS, which pays better than charters, etc.

YY is very picky about their Chinese teachers and it is difficult to get hired there more difficult than at other Chinese immersion schools. All the Chinese teachers are native speakers usually from China. I wouldn't worry about quality of the Chinese teachers, the ones they keep and retain are excellent, dedicated, and hard working although they tend to be young but that also means they are youthful and enthusiastic.

The English speaking teachers are just as awesome.


- signed Yu Ying parent of child in upper elementary.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, PP. Simplified Chinese is fine with me. I'm just wondering if YY can really attract and retain teachers who are both native Chinese speakers and great at teaching math or whatever academic subject they teach, given the much smaller pool of candidates they have to choose from, compared to a strong DCPS, which pays better than charters, etc.

YY is very picky about their Chinese teachers and it is difficult to get hired there more difficult than at other Chinese immersion schools. All the Chinese teachers are native speakers usually from China. I wouldn't worry about quality of the Chinese teachers, the ones they keep and retain are excellent, dedicated, and hard working although they tend to be young but that also means they are youthful and enthusiastic.

Thanks, PP. Simplified Chinese is fine with me. I'm just wondering if YY can really attract and retain teachers who are both native Chinese speakers and great at teaching math or whatever academic subject they teach, given the much smaller pool of candidates they have to choose from, compared to a strong DCPS, which pays better than charters, etc.

Congrats on having to fantastic options! Personally, I'd go with Yu Ying because the option for a second chance is unlikely. With regard to the immersion point, the laymen on here simply don't understand the benefits of second language fluency. There's tons of science to back up the superior brains of bilinguals. Really, it's a two second Google search. Americans are way behind getting this, but elsewhere it's a given that people will be bi and possibly trilingual. Honestly, it's exasperating reading opinions on here that are based on absolutely nothing. I'm a science person and the science supports that bilingualism is a fantastic thing. So, I'd go with that if that was an option. We happen to be in at a HRCS for Spanish and count our lucky stars. That said, it is truly a commitment and nothing to shrug your shoulders too. It's gut-wrenching when families need to move and there isn't a Chinese option at the new school. They've spent years investing in Chinese, only to have to give it up because life happens and people have to move, etc... Spanish has that challenge as well, but easier. Also, we do a lot of enrichment, which isn't cheap. Also, aftercare is expensive as well. I've heard that Yu Ying parents feel the need to invest in tutoring, Au Pairs, etc... Again, not cheap. I can't say whether that's valid and that stuff is actually needed, but speaking from experience with Spanish, my child would not be as good without all of the extras. She's perfectly fluent to the amazement of the large Latin American community we know and it's because we're very strict with it. For me as a mom, I'm constantly evaluating whether it's all too much, but that's me. I want a healthy happy kid more than anything, so if the language piece gets out of hand, I'll be choosing happiness if a choice was ever needed to be made!

OP- you will get that at YY provided you are on-board with the IB approach. It is more process and less content driven. All subjects are taught in both languages and my child has been sufficiently challenged. Instruction is in simplified do that may be of some issue re. Taiwan. It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me, but it was for someone I know who travels there extensively.

OP here. We travel regularly to Taiwan, as I have family there, and I can support Chinese at home. But I still primarily care about strong academics and teaching, apart from just language acquisition. If I can get that at YY, then great, because then I don't have to drive to the suburbs every weekend for Chinese school. But if Hearst offers a stronger academic program and individualized instruction, then I would choose that. Hope someone with experience at these schools can actually answer that question.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not fluent in Chinese, but my kids are on the road. It doesn't stop us from going to China. However, staying home would also not stop the kids from learning Chinese in a great environment. Good luck with you decision.

(And OP- remember that people will post on here with the intent of opening up a spot for themselves.)

I think you are missing the point of the person's post your responding to. My daughter spent her first 5 years of life in an immersion program and the only reason she has kept her languages is because we travel where she can use it. How many of us parents took a second language in high school/college and can not speak a lick of Spanish or French. Mandarin and etc is a specialized language that has to be cultivated beyond or after school. If you are not in a position to do that then that is something to think about.

I'm not fluent in Chinese, but my kids are on the road. It doesn't stop us from going to China. However, staying home would also not stop the kids from learning Chinese in a great environment. Good luck with you decision.

(And OP- remember that people will post on here with the intent of opening up a spot for themselves.)

If you belonged at YY, you would not be asking this question. Only those absolutely committed to the program should enroll. So the answer is Hearst. Great choices to have. You are one of the big winners in this town.

Hearst in my opinion. I understand Yu Ying offers a great academic program with chinese language immersion. Unless you are a parent that exposes the world to your child i would go with Hearst. I have too many friends that have enrolled their children into immersion programs and they don't even travel or have passports. Ask yourself why do you want your child to become fluent in a 2nd language. Will you as a parent make the investment to nurture that language as they grow older if not then stick to Hearst.

I would choose Yu ying. You can always move to the Hearst district later but this is likely your only chance for Yu Ying. Why not try it out?

We used a similar logic for another charter and have been very happy there and now we can move anywhere!

Anonymous wrote:Hearst.

Super helpful! (Not OP, but still)

Hearst.

We're thinking about moving in-bounds for Hearst but also got a very good wait list number for YY, which is closer to our current home. Chinese is a big plus, but we care most about strong teachers and individualized learning. We've toured both schools and like them both but would like to get a better sense of the quality of instruction at the upper grades. Would really appreciate any insight from anyone familiar with both schools.