I would like to heartily agree with 00:38.

I consider myself close to bilingual in Spanish and I learned it mostly as an adult. (We did start Spanish in 5th grade at my school but it was not immersion, only 3x per week). My son is learning Spanish both at school and at home speaking to my native speaker husband. At five, he is now a more fluid speaker than I will ever be in Spanish. The language just trips off his tongue. But this is due to enormous effort on our part. We only speak Spanish as a family, he has only had Spanish speaking caregivers, and he has never gone to a daycare or preschool in English. Books and TV are in Spanish (although sometimes we slip a bit there). While I have a much larger vocabulary in Spanish than my son and a greater capacity to think in complex ways, he is already a more fluid speaker (as a native Speaker) than I will ever be. Learning language very early really does make you a much better speaker, but only if there is the effort to reinforce and develop that language beyond what the school offers alone.

Worrying about potential job markets does not make sense at this point. However, I am committed to my son being bilingual for other reasons. Most importantly, I want him to have the capacity to understand different ways of thinking and different types of behavior. Language is a window into other cultures. When you learn another language, you learn another way of being, expressing, and communicating. In my opinion, this opportunity enables you to be a more flexible person, one who is open to diverse people and experiences. This is what I want for my son.

Many people will not care about this aspect of language learning. But I believe that our country would be a better place if more people here in the US did value these things.

I'm the bilingual PP who posted above and said immersion schools are not magical.

I just wanted to say that we do send our three kids to an immersion school here in DC and there are definitely some kids without Spanish backgrounds that can and do speak Spanish well. Immersion schools are not magic, but some kids just pick it up easily. Of my three kids, one speaks stellar Spanish. One speaks it so-so and only under duress. The youngest is a mixed bag. We put in a ton of effort on top of the school, so I suspect that it will work out in the end.

I'm not saying that you won't get magical results one of these schools or in college if your kid decides to learn another language. what I'm trying to say is that it is unlikely unless you put in the legwork. Agree with Pp that the language on the TV must always reflect the language you're trying to teach.

You are right, PP.

We speak a language that's taught at a DC charter immersion school (which our children do not attend). We work hard, day in and day out, ensure that our kids are growing up bilingual, but don't see strong commitment to bilingual education on the part of most of the parents we talk to whose children attend the school. Parents don't seem to have a clue how exposure to the language the children will need for them to grow up bilingual (e.g. they routinely allowing kids to watch entertainment in English, when they could require them to watch in the language the kids study, or not allow them to watch). The conventional widows is that the instruction the kids get at this school in the language will do the trick to ensure that they emerge as bilingual by the upper grades.

To our ears, many upper grades kids who attend the school speak the language so poorly that we wonder why the parents bother with language immersion. Also, PARCC ELA scores for the school are low relative to those of children at DC public schools with similar demographic profiles. I get the feeling that many DC immersion parents are in for a rude awakening eventually.

Anonymous wrote:NP here. Yes you can become fluent in Spanish without immersion. I am one. I've gotten jobs that require fluent Spanish.

There is also research on how second language fluency improves executive function. Have not read that about Montessori but it makes sense.

So many the LAMB model will be the best? I don't know.

You sound really nice, so I just want to make it clear that I'm not disparaging you.

I am a truly bilingual person having spent my childhood bouncing between the U.S. and my other country. My mom spoke to me in Spanish and my dad in English. I also work in a place that requires true bilingualism.

I have to say that most Americans who tell me they speak fluent Spanish don't. Not the use of the word "most" not "all". I very much doubt that it is as easy as just moving to Bolivia for 12 weeks. You can get a good grasp, and maybe a solid cultural understanding- but that trip plus some college courses will not make you fluent by any stretch of the definition. Languages are hard work.

I also do not think that Mundo Verde, etc are magical institutions where kids come in clueless and come out fluent. Parents putting in the hard work plus the school's efforts are key. Traveling to Spanish speaking places, hiring a Latina au pair, speaking to your kid in Spanish all the time- that's what makes kids fluent. Even with all this, some kids are not gifted in languages.

I speak three additional languages on top of English and Spanish. I'm close to fluent (by my definition, haha) in one of them, the one I learned when I was young. The other two are a struggle (but most Americans consider me fluent).

My whole point is that languages are hard and there is no easy solution. Even if you're gifted I'm languages like I am, there is no substitute for hard work. Immersion schools totally will give your kid a leg up, but that's not an easy way to teach your kid a language. An immersion school will definitely help, but won't do all the work for you. If you decide not to go the immersion route, that's not to say your kid is monolingual for life. But if you do want another language, you can do it with lots of hard work.

As a final note, there are lots of weekend classes and summer camps in foreign languages around DC. So if you don't make it into LAMB or MV or whatever, you can always drive to a weekend school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Enjoy your free daycare

\

This. and stop buying into the hype. being sorta bilingual in spanish/english is really not that amazing, nor does is open secret doors.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it is in deed amazing and does open many doors in job market!

omg, do you know how many adults are walking around who did not go to an immersion school, have English speaking parents, and are fluent in Spanish - shit tons!

There is research on early language acquisition and brain elasticity. There is also research on learning a musical instrument and math and language. There is tons of research on monetssori and executive function/self regulation (and these things have more impact on success than IQ). You can't have everything. We are happy to have the benefits of Montessori over the benefits of immersion; others make different choices.

For us the choice also came down to school size. We wanted a small, sweet school for elementary (and middle if it works out). Our elementary school never plans to be over 300-350 or so, which is important to us. Others want the resources of a large school (isn't MV like 500 now). One is not better than other other - just different, each with benefits and drawbacks.

Good luck OP. Enjoy your baby's first year of shcool.

PP, I'd focus on English for yourself right now. Consider a refresher on spelling.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of reasonable people who would pick Montessori over immersion education. Unfortunately here on DCUM the pro-immersion crowd tends towards the fanatical so it's impossible to have a reasoned discussion over the benefits/detriments. Your child will be fine, OP.

There are plenty of fanatics in both Montessori and language immersion camps. I can't have a reasoned discussion with either.

-neither

Not so many Montessori fanatics on DCUM; here I think there are a lot more immersion fanatics. I agree in general however.

Maybe, not many.

NP here. Yes you can become fluent in Spanish without immersion. I am one. I've gotten jobs that require fluent Spanish.

There is also research on how second language fluency improves executive function. Have not read that about Montessori but it makes sense.

So many the LAMB model will be the best? I don't know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No choice is permanent! As your child grows you will determine what us the best fit for your family.

We chose IT over our jklm and had a lovely time-consuming nurturing and warm community with stellar teachers. We switched for Spanish immersion which is a priority for our family. The research on the elasticity of the brain, and early language acquisition swayed us, and as a family can support it at home.

As we've transitioned more than once my advice is to fully commit to where you are now. Demonstrate to DC that you believe education is important and the rest will follow.

Good luck!

I do not believe for a moment that you actually reside inbound for Janney, Mann, Lafayette or Key -- especially Key -- and you decided to drive past that school and commute across town, first to IT and now to some dual language DCPS ('cuz we know it's not MV).

(I would, however, buy that you were renting somewhere in Ward 3 and played the lottery to get a ps3 spot, which "jklm" doesn't have.

I know of at least one Lafayette zoned family at Inspired Teaching as they are out neighbors. We also have friends zoned for another JKLM in upper grade at LAMB.

We are the family that chose the IT environment (small, nurturing with two classes per grade level) rather than our IB. We moved to be inbounds for a DCPS Spanish immersion school.

Anonymous wrote:There are plenty of reasonable people who would pick Montessori over immersion education. Unfortunately here on DCUM the pro-immersion crowd tends towards the fanatical so it's impossible to have a reasoned discussion over the benefits/detriments. Your child will be fine, OP.

There are plenty of fanatics in both Montessori and language immersion camps. I can't have a reasoned discussion with either.

-neither

There are plenty of reasonable people who would pick Montessori over immersion education. Unfortunately here on DCUM the pro-immersion crowd tends towards the fanatical so it's impossible to have a reasoned discussion over the benefits/detriments. Your child will be fine, OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No choice is permanent! As your child grows you will determine what us the best fit for your family.

We chose IT over our jklm and had a lovely time-consuming nurturing and warm community with stellar teachers. We switched for Spanish immersion which is a priority for our family. The research on the elasticity of the brain, and early language acquisition swayed us, and as a family can support it at home.

As we've transitioned more than once my advice is to fully commit to where you are now. Demonstrate to DC that you believe education is important and the rest will follow.

Good luck!

I do not believe for a moment that you actually reside inbound for Janney, Mann, Lafayette or Key -- especially Key -- and you decided to drive past that school and commute across town, first to IT and now to some dual language DCPS ('cuz we know it's not MV).

(I would, however, buy that you were renting somewhere in Ward 3 and played the lottery to get a ps3 spot, which "jklm" doesn't have.

I know of at least one Lafayette zoned family at Inspired Teaching as they are out neighbors. We also have friends zoned for another JKLM in upper grade at LAMB.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Enjoy your free daycare

\

This. and stop buying into the hype. being sorta bilingual in spanish/english is really not that amazing, nor does is open secret doors.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it is in deed amazing and does open many doors in job market!

Oh look! brand new research showing that 24-year-olds who learned a new language had increased brain activity as shown in brain scans. Supporting all the PPs who make the point that the door doesn't slam shut if Maeve isn't "immersed" in Spanglish from age 3 - 7, when her parents bail for a school with a stronger cohort.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160902111425.htm

Anonymous wrote:No choice is permanent! As your child grows you will determine what us the best fit for your family.

We chose IT over our jklm and had a lovely time-consuming nurturing and warm community with stellar teachers. We switched for Spanish immersion which is a priority for our family. The research on the elasticity of the brain, and early language acquisition swayed us, and as a family can support it at home.

As we've transitioned more than once my advice is to fully commit to where you are now. Demonstrate to DC that you believe education is important and the rest will follow.

Good luck!

I do not believe for a moment that you actually reside inbound for Janney, Mann, Lafayette or Key -- especially Key -- and you decided to drive past that school and commute across town, first to IT and now to some dual language DCPS ('cuz we know it's not MV).

(I would, however, buy that you were renting somewhere in Ward 3 and played the lottery to get a ps3 spot, which "jklm" doesn't have.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Enjoy your free daycare

\

This. and stop buying into the hype. being sorta bilingual in spanish/english is really not that amazing, nor does is open secret doors.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it is in deed amazing and does open many doors in job market!

What world do you live in that you worry about your 3 year old's job market?

This post right here is the #1 argument to stay in your Montessori.