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#1
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Dual Language Program
I have enrolled my daughter in a public school that offers a Dual Language
Spanish/English class. Half the class is native Spanish speakers and half is native English speakers. The children are taught from preK-2 in Spanish through out the day except for language arts, where they break into groups which is taught in their native language. In 3-4 grade they are then taught the whole day in English except language arts is taught in the second language. I did have some concerns before enrolling her in the program but I thought that this year of preschool would be my trial year. I figured it was worth it even if the least she learns is a few Spanish words and develops her social skills. But now I am having to decide if I want to commit her to the program for the next 4 years. In theory I love the idea of her being Bilingual, Biliterate and Bicultural. This is the projected goal of the students in this program. The children in programs like these have entered 5th grade not only being proficient in both languages but are actually ahead in English then their peers whom did not participate in the program. My main concern is that our program is only in its first year and I don't have much to compare it to. I was wondering if any of you have any such programs in your area or any personal experience with these programs. I want to make sure I am making the most informed decision. For those of you that aren't familiar maybe you could give me some of your concerns, maybe they are things I haven't thought of. Thanks, ~Kimberly Mommy to Alexis Iliana 07/17/99 and Emma Elidia & Aislyn Gabriela 10/01/02 come see us... http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aislynemma/ |
#2
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Dual Language Program
"KimandJuan" wrote in message ... (snip...) The children in programs like these have entered 5th grade not only | being proficient in both languages but are actually ahead in English then their | peers whom did not participate in the program. I'd like to peruse the evidence for this statement if you have it handy. My main concern is that our | program is only in its first year and I don't have much to compare it to. I | was wondering if any of you have any such programs in your area or any personal | experience with these programs. I want to make sure I am making the most | informed decision. For those of you that aren't familiar maybe you could give | me some of your concerns, maybe they are things I haven't thought of. I don't know about those programs but I can report that here in Calgary where they have French Immersion public (though Catholic) grade schools, they don't publish their English standardized reading test scores. That is, you can look up ALL other public school reading and math test scores EXCEPT those for the French Immersion schools. I suspect there is a reason for that. I can't see how working so much in another language can possibly boost the English reading test scores. To the extent getting into a good college requires good standardized test scores, I probably wouldn't consider it for my girls. I don't know if being fluent in another language can overcome test scores when trying to get into college. That's my take on it. -- sharon, momma to savannah and willow (11/11/94) |
#3
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Dual Language Program
"KimandJuan" wrote in message ... (snip...) The children in programs like these have entered 5th grade not only | being proficient in both languages but are actually ahead in English then their | peers whom did not participate in the program. I'd like to peruse the evidence for this statement if you have it handy. My main concern is that our | program is only in its first year and I don't have much to compare it to. I | was wondering if any of you have any such programs in your area or any personal | experience with these programs. I want to make sure I am making the most | informed decision. For those of you that aren't familiar maybe you could give | me some of your concerns, maybe they are things I haven't thought of. I don't know about those programs but I can report that here in Calgary where they have French Immersion public (though Catholic) grade schools, they don't publish their English standardized reading test scores. That is, you can look up ALL other public school reading and math test scores EXCEPT those for the French Immersion schools. I suspect there is a reason for that. I can't see how working so much in another language can possibly boost the English reading test scores. To the extent getting into a good college requires good standardized test scores, I probably wouldn't consider it for my girls. I don't know if being fluent in another language can overcome test scores when trying to get into college. That's my take on it. -- sharon, momma to savannah and willow (11/11/94) |
#4
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Dual Language Program
Sharon ) wrote:
I can't see how working so much in another language can possibly boost the English reading test scores. To the extent getting into a good college requires good standardized test scores, I probably wouldn't consider it for my girls. I'd have said standardized test scores in English correlate far, far more with leisure reading habits than they do with any instructional method whatsoever. If anything, being literate in two languages would be extraordinarily helpful. Latin was immensely helpful on the verbal SAT, and French would have been nearly as much so. I'd gladly drop fifty points off my SAT verbal score (which I could easily spare) if it meant I could be fluent in a foreign language, anyway. But I doubt it would mean doing that. The main thing, however, is whether the teaching is any good. The folks I've heard complaining about particular French-language schools in Canada have been complaining about the quality of the schools, full stop, not about the language part. But that's not relevant to the OP. --Helen |
#5
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Dual Language Program
Sharon ) wrote:
I can't see how working so much in another language can possibly boost the English reading test scores. To the extent getting into a good college requires good standardized test scores, I probably wouldn't consider it for my girls. I'd have said standardized test scores in English correlate far, far more with leisure reading habits than they do with any instructional method whatsoever. If anything, being literate in two languages would be extraordinarily helpful. Latin was immensely helpful on the verbal SAT, and French would have been nearly as much so. I'd gladly drop fifty points off my SAT verbal score (which I could easily spare) if it meant I could be fluent in a foreign language, anyway. But I doubt it would mean doing that. The main thing, however, is whether the teaching is any good. The folks I've heard complaining about particular French-language schools in Canada have been complaining about the quality of the schools, full stop, not about the language part. But that's not relevant to the OP. --Helen |
#6
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Dual Language Program
Kimberly,
Well, I have no hard core data currently at my fingertips that would be beneficial. As far as a personal opinion goes (based on previous research), I would do it. My reasoning is that there are many benefits to dual language schools other than just linguistics and writing. The "bicultural" aspect of which you spoke strikes the strongest cord with me. Also, the strength a 2nd language gives a child when mastering his first language is a huge benefit. It sounds odd, but when studying more than one language, you get an insight into your own that is invaluable. My mother is an English teacher and I'm the first in my family to *not* choose to be a teacher. My family and I discussed private vs. public, dual language vs. traditional, college prep. vs. traditional, etc. Each time I feel the pressure of doing right by the girls, they remind me that the main source of success will be determined by the amount of help/motivation a child gets from the parents regardless of the school. So, don't stress too much about it. Yes, it will be important to offer them the best you can. But, you need to tailor it to the child and also to what you will be teaching them at home on your own. The very fact that you are concerned and involved will give your kids an advantage that sadly many children never see, IMO. Good luck! Missy in Indiana http://hometown.aol.com/mhrust/overviewforng.html Morgan Olivia & Julia Lucille 4/28/01 (YAY!) |
#7
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Dual Language Program
Kimberly,
Well, I have no hard core data currently at my fingertips that would be beneficial. As far as a personal opinion goes (based on previous research), I would do it. My reasoning is that there are many benefits to dual language schools other than just linguistics and writing. The "bicultural" aspect of which you spoke strikes the strongest cord with me. Also, the strength a 2nd language gives a child when mastering his first language is a huge benefit. It sounds odd, but when studying more than one language, you get an insight into your own that is invaluable. My mother is an English teacher and I'm the first in my family to *not* choose to be a teacher. My family and I discussed private vs. public, dual language vs. traditional, college prep. vs. traditional, etc. Each time I feel the pressure of doing right by the girls, they remind me that the main source of success will be determined by the amount of help/motivation a child gets from the parents regardless of the school. So, don't stress too much about it. Yes, it will be important to offer them the best you can. But, you need to tailor it to the child and also to what you will be teaching them at home on your own. The very fact that you are concerned and involved will give your kids an advantage that sadly many children never see, IMO. Good luck! Missy in Indiana http://hometown.aol.com/mhrust/overviewforng.html Morgan Olivia & Julia Lucille 4/28/01 (YAY!) |
#8
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Dual Language Program
"H Schinske" wrote in message
... | Sharon ) wrote: | | I can't see how working so much in another language can possibly boost the | English reading test scores. To the extent getting into a good college | requires good standardized test scores, I probably wouldn't consider it for | my girls. | | I'd have said standardized test scores in English correlate far, far more with | leisure reading habits than they do with any instructional method whatsoever. | If anything, being literate in two languages would be extraordinarily helpful. | Latin was immensely helpful on the verbal SAT, and French would have been | nearly as much so. Wouldn't it be an a priori reasonable assumption that the English language vocabulary of student's taught entirely in English would be larger that that for student's who have a lot of their subject instruction in another language? Vocabulary is an important part of the verbal SAT. Students who are fluent in a second language will ace the AP language exam but how will they do on reading and math tests given in English? (snip) | The main thing, however, is whether the teaching is any good. The folks I've | heard complaining about particular French-language schools in Canada have been | complaining about the quality of the schools, full stop, not about the language | part. But that's not relevant to the OP. It seems to me the situation in the French immersion schools here would be hopelessly conflated between "quality of the school" and "intrinsic merit of French immersion when trying to test into top-tier schools." If it wasn't then they would be publishing the reading and math scores. Why don't they even publish the math scores I wonder? Perhaps its related the fact that math is taught in French yet is being tested (later) in English? I don't know. Why do you think the French Immersion public schools grade schools don't publish the standardized test scores? -- sharon, momma to savannah and willow (11/11/94) |
#9
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Dual Language Program
"H Schinske" wrote in message
... | Sharon ) wrote: | | I can't see how working so much in another language can possibly boost the | English reading test scores. To the extent getting into a good college | requires good standardized test scores, I probably wouldn't consider it for | my girls. | | I'd have said standardized test scores in English correlate far, far more with | leisure reading habits than they do with any instructional method whatsoever. | If anything, being literate in two languages would be extraordinarily helpful. | Latin was immensely helpful on the verbal SAT, and French would have been | nearly as much so. Wouldn't it be an a priori reasonable assumption that the English language vocabulary of student's taught entirely in English would be larger that that for student's who have a lot of their subject instruction in another language? Vocabulary is an important part of the verbal SAT. Students who are fluent in a second language will ace the AP language exam but how will they do on reading and math tests given in English? (snip) | The main thing, however, is whether the teaching is any good. The folks I've | heard complaining about particular French-language schools in Canada have been | complaining about the quality of the schools, full stop, not about the language | part. But that's not relevant to the OP. It seems to me the situation in the French immersion schools here would be hopelessly conflated between "quality of the school" and "intrinsic merit of French immersion when trying to test into top-tier schools." If it wasn't then they would be publishing the reading and math scores. Why don't they even publish the math scores I wonder? Perhaps its related the fact that math is taught in French yet is being tested (later) in English? I don't know. Why do you think the French Immersion public schools grade schools don't publish the standardized test scores? -- sharon, momma to savannah and willow (11/11/94) |
#10
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Dual Language Program
lizzard woman wrote:
Why do you think the French Immersion public schools grade schools don't publish the standardized test scores? One thing that might be overlooked here is that we don't use SAT's for our college and university application process. So the testing becomes irrelavant. -- Brigitte aa #2145 edd #3 February 15, 2004 http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/j/joshuaandkaterina/ "Readers are plentiful; thinkers are rare." ~ Harriet Martineau |
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