Anonymous
Post 04/01/2014 22:05     Subject: Mundo Verde - Check their Spanish
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:21:47 here. I don't know yet. We will give it a chance/check out the Open House. As a mixed Hispanic/Anglo family, its important for me for our kids to get quality Spanish instruction, just as I would want for them in math, science, or any other subject. Bilingual education is a huge draw for us, but not if it's token bilingualism, or not done thoroughly or well. In my opinion a "bilingual school" should teach Spanish (or whatever language) very well. Would we send our kids to a STEM school where the science or math was not taken seriously or diligently? Clearly not, and this is no different.


THIS. The stem analogy is huge. Also, spending a year (or more) living abroad can make you truly, truly fluent in a way that spending k-8 in bilingual but not living abroad will not.


Great point. I wonder if kids can do a semester abroad once DCI is up and running. I wouldn't mind my 9th grader doing so.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2014 22:05     Subject: Mundo Verde - Check their Spanish
21:56 - A Hispanic American myself, I didn't have bilingual education growing up in the US, and yet learned to read, write and ultimately have a career in Latin America speaking Spanish, all from learning from my family. So yes, its possible.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2014 22:04     Subject: Mundo Verde - Check their Spanish
Anonymous wrote:21:47 here. I don't know yet. We will give it a chance/check out the Open House. As a mixed Hispanic/Anglo family, its important for me for our kids to get quality Spanish instruction, just as I would want for them in math, science, or any other subject. Bilingual education is a huge draw for us, but not if it's token bilingualism, or not done thoroughly or well. In my opinion a "bilingual school" should teach Spanish (or whatever language) very well. Would we send our kids to a STEM school where the science or math was not taken seriously or diligently? Clearly not, and this is no different.


What are your other options if you want language (Spanish) immersion?
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2014 22:03     Subject: Mundo Verde - Check their Spanish
Anonymous wrote:21:47 here. I don't know yet. We will give it a chance/check out the Open House. As a mixed Hispanic/Anglo family, its important for me for our kids to get quality Spanish instruction, just as I would want for them in math, science, or any other subject. Bilingual education is a huge draw for us, but not if it's token bilingualism, or not done thoroughly or well. In my opinion a "bilingual school" should teach Spanish (or whatever language) very well. Would we send our kids to a STEM school where the science or math was not taken seriously or diligently? Clearly not, and this is no different.


THIS. The stem analogy is huge. Also, spending a year (or more) living abroad can make you truly, truly fluent in a way that spending k-8 in bilingual but not living abroad will not.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2014 22:02     Subject: Re:Mundo Verde - Check their Spanish
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:People! If you got in, take it you silly parents! As a decade-long veteran of a bilingual charter school and fluent heritage speaker, yes, you will have some issues with the variety of grammar, dialects and vocab you encounter, and, yes, you will sometimes wish that both the ENGLISH and the SPANISH of various teachers were stronger. You will feel this about EVERY school you encounter during the next decades you spend educating your child/ren. Does it make the difference between giving your kid a top notch bilingual education vs. a mono-lingual one? I sincerely hope not, and, if it does, then perhaps you're not all that interested in bilingual education to begin with. The "I can teach my kid my language at home" thing is a pipe dream. It ain't gonna happen. You need the rigorous, every day immersion if you want to raise a bilingual, biliterate child. Period. But that's just my opinion


This is a good take, thanks! I suspect I am suffering from perfect being the enemy of the good.


This explanation does help.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2014 22:01     Subject: Mundo Verde - Check their Spanish
21:47 here. I don't know yet. We will give it a chance/check out the Open House. As a mixed Hispanic/Anglo family, its important for me for our kids to get quality Spanish instruction, just as I would want for them in math, science, or any other subject. Bilingual education is a huge draw for us, but not if it's token bilingualism, or not done thoroughly or well. In my opinion a "bilingual school" should teach Spanish (or whatever language) very well. Would we send our kids to a STEM school where the science or math was not taken seriously or diligently? Clearly not, and this is no different.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2014 22:01     Subject: Mundo Verde - Check their Spanish
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Native Spanish speaker here, just got in to MV. Funny, just this evening I read our welcome postcard and wondered aloud to DH about the Spanish on it. Not totally incorrect, just awkward/not accurate. Hmm


Yikes! You aren't making my decision easy. Will you accept?


Can you quote what as written? I am curious because I might be applying next year.


Yes, quotes would be helpful.


I have that email, but being a native English speaker I have no idea where the error exist.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2014 21:59     Subject: Re:Mundo Verde - Check their Spanish
Anonymous wrote:People! If you got in, take it you silly parents! As a decade-long veteran of a bilingual charter school and fluent heritage speaker, yes, you will have some issues with the variety of grammar, dialects and vocab you encounter, and, yes, you will sometimes wish that both the ENGLISH and the SPANISH of various teachers were stronger. You will feel this about EVERY school you encounter during the next decades you spend educating your child/ren. Does it make the difference between giving your kid a top notch bilingual education vs. a mono-lingual one? I sincerely hope not, and, if it does, then perhaps you're not all that interested in bilingual education to begin with. The "I can teach my kid my language at home" thing is a pipe dream. It ain't gonna happen. You need the rigorous, every day immersion if you want to raise a bilingual, biliterate child. Period. But that's just my opinion


This is a good take, thanks! I suspect I am suffering from perfect being the enemy of the good.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2014 21:57     Subject: Mundo Verde - Check their Spanish
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Native Spanish speaker here, just got in to MV. Funny, just this evening I read our welcome postcard and wondered aloud to DH about the Spanish on it. Not totally incorrect, just awkward/not accurate. Hmm


Yikes! You aren't making my decision easy. Will you accept?


Can you quote what as written? I am curious because I might be applying next year.


Yes, quotes would be helpful.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2014 21:57     Subject: Re:Mundo Verde - Check their Spanish
People! If you got in, take it you silly parents! As a decade-long veteran of a bilingual charter school and fluent heritage speaker, yes, you will have some issues with the variety of grammar, dialects and vocab you encounter, and, yes, you will sometimes wish that both the ENGLISH and the SPANISH of various teachers were stronger. You will feel this about EVERY school you encounter during the next decades you spend educating your child/ren. Does it make the difference between giving your kid a top notch bilingual education vs. a mono-lingual one? I sincerely hope not, and, if it does, then perhaps you're not all that interested in bilingual education to begin with. The "I can teach my kid my language at home" thing is a pipe dream. It ain't gonna happen. You need the rigorous, every day immersion if you want to raise a bilingual, biliterate child. Period. But that's just my opinion
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2014 21:56     Subject: Mundo Verde - Check their Spanish
This is where I am torn. I like the idea of language fluency --but I think I prize quality of education over an additional language and so have trouble with most of the bilingual immersion options in DC. What's the point of 50% of the kids' time being in something demonstrably substandard?
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2014 21:55     Subject: Mundo Verde - Check their Spanish
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Native Spanish speaker here, just got in to MV. Funny, just this evening I read our welcome postcard and wondered aloud to DH about the Spanish on it. Not totally incorrect, just awkward/not accurate. Hmm


Yikes! You aren't making my decision easy. Will you accept?


Can you quote what as written? I am curious because I might be applying next year.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2014 21:50     Subject: Mundo Verde - Check their Spanish
Anonymous wrote:Native Spanish speaker here, just got in to MV. Funny, just this evening I read our welcome postcard and wondered aloud to DH about the Spanish on it. Not totally incorrect, just awkward/not accurate. Hmm


Yikes! You aren't making my decision easy. Will you accept?
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2014 21:49     Subject: Mundo Verde - Check their Spanish
Anonymous wrote:I think MV is popular largely because of people not having better options. (sorry, I think it's true!)

No test scores even, right?


I would have to agree, but is LAMB or Powell better?
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2014 21:47     Subject: Mundo Verde - Check their Spanish
I think MV is popular largely because of people not having better options. (sorry, I think it's true!)

No test scores even, right?