How to Decide if Your Child Should be in Language Immersion

For many parents, the benefits of a partial or full language immersion program, beginning in kindergarten or first grade, is a no brainer. Others worry if their child is a good fit, or have questions about the program. If you are thinking about enrolling your young child in language immersion, here are some factors to consider.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Consider your child. While most kids will easily adapt, no questions asked, to curriculum in a foreign language, it can be stressful at first. If your child is especially fragile, emotionally or socially, or has recently experienced a major change, you should discuss your concerns with program administrators.

2. Research the program. Each immersion program is unique. Take time to visit the classrooms, speak to teachers, chat with other parents. Check out the school's test results. Get a feel for the school. Once the child is enrolled, it is best for the child to remain enrolled for the duration of elementary school. If, however, there seem to be problems and frustrations for your child, it is best to switch her out earlier rather than later. Not every child may be suited for this program. Also, check to see if your program is well-established (some as many as 30 years) or just beginning, in which case they may need to work out some kinks.

3. Reflect on yourself as a parent. Are you anxiety-ridden? If so, it may be tough to see your child lag behind others (in standard school programs) with English reading or writing. Most full immersion programs emphasize second language acquisition first, so parents may just have to wait for kids to catch up in English literacy. When they do, things will probably move fast.

4. Find out if your district has a follow up program for language immersion kids in middle school or even high school. If even a few subject courses are offered in the second language, great. Otherwise, the child may gradually lose the language after elementary school or be forced to study it on a much less challenging level.

Tips & Warnings

• Be open to Chinese or Japanese immersion as well as Spanish. These are offered in many large cities.
• Don't be afraid if you don't know the language yourself. Teachers understand that the parents may need help or a translated handout in order to help kids with their homework.