Anonymous wrote:I think people pick immersion because they like the idea of being able to say, "My kid speaks two languages!" It makes their kids sound smarter than your kid .

Do people think that? My maid speaks 2 languages and didn't graduate high school my FIL has 2 PHDs and is monolingual.

I think people pick immersion because they like the idea of being able to say, "My kid speaks two languages!" It makes their kids sound smarter than your kid .

Anonymous wrote:Probably in the vast minority here, but I see school being as much, if not more, about worldview-building and character development than about equipping with academic or social skills. If DC were not in immersion for a specific, desired language, would probably be homeschooled.

isn't "worldview-building and character development" gained by being exposed to different people outside of your control? It's funny that I generally agree with the first part of your statement yet think SCHOOL is the better place to gain that perspective than home schooling, learning to get along with others and negotiate needs independently. Many homeschoolers are vaccine nuts or hyper religious, which isn't the worldview I'd ever want.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a relatively low priority for us compared to other factors. We didn't apply for any of them.

Such a bad response. Op is wondering why. It's obvious it was a low factor for you. The post is wondering why it's a low factor. What factors rise above it?

Both parents work in STEM fields, we do not put a high value on learning a second language.

STEM can exist in an immersion environment.

Probably in the vast minority here, but I see school being as much, if not more, about worldview-building and character development than about equipping with academic or social skills. If DC were not in immersion for a specific, desired language, would probably be homeschooled.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, the overzealous drank-the-koolaid parents that ask "how could you not give your child such a precious gift?"

This.

+1


As well, my son does not have Spanish fluency due to his elementary experience, that is true. But, he has a whole long list of skills, strengths and experiences that he wouldn't have had, had he attended a public school of any type.

I think the Immersion. Period. parents don't realize there's more out there, and some of it is superior even though the kid winds up monolingual until HS or college.

prefer the language to be of my children's choosing and at their initiative not ours since we don't speak at home (though both speak Spanish, one better than the other). We exposed a little when they developed speech. Language isn't a big deal to pick up later and has little value for young children now. Others may disagree, but we think it's a distraction for mastering other more important concepts.

To the person, asking literally "how could you?", there are other ways than immersion to become fluent in multiple languages. I'm not convinced that immersion is necessarily the best way, surely not for everyone. Immersion isn't a magic wand that you can wave over your child's head to give her/him "the gift". Language development is more complex than that. For example, I speak and write four languages pretty fluently and wrote my Ph.D. in a foreign language. But was never in an immersion school. I learned them as second languages in school, starting in middle school. I traveled with my parents for vacation and did an exchange year in high school as well as in college.

I have one child who receives speech therapy -- immersion just seems like a formula for frustration.

Also, I hated studying language growing up -- it was always my worst subject, despite giving it my greatest effort. Same for my husband.

If my kids are at all like their parents, they will excel in other subjects, like science, math, reading and writing. They can learn a language later, if motivated.

For a host of reasons, we prefer our traditional DCPS neighborhood school.

we are interested for one language only. if we don't get that language (which we can support at home), then we've ranked based on a combo of location and school reputation (regardless of whether world language is offered or not), and we will continue to speak family language at home.

We didn't prioritize language immersion but are not opposed to it overall. It can be difficult to implement immersion or dual language. Some teachers are stronger than others. Some schools have better vision than others. Sometimes it's "immersion by default" because of the school's population. I also had concerns about being able to support language at home.

In the end, we ranked schools based more on location than anything else.

I am IN for an immersion school but its has many many challenges with ELL studetnts, literarcy issues in their native language, low test scores, high poverty and no middle school option. I would love for kid to be bilingual but if I had the option for JLKM I would take it in a heartbeat. A solid, safe and high performing school trumps a second language to me.

Anonymous wrote:Wondering for those of you who aren't interested in language immersion do you already speak a second language at home or are you not involved really internationally?

What does "being involved internationally" mean?
Travel often? Do business? Have family?
That's such a vague question.

Anonymous wrote:Wondering for those of you who aren't interested in language immersion do you already speak a second language at home or are you not involved really internationally?

How is enrolling my kid in an immersion school being involved internationally?

Wondering for those of you who aren't interested in language immersion do you already speak a second language at home or are you not involved really internationally?