Admiral Beez
Superstar
My kids are entering Senior Kindergarten in September 2008, which has an optional French Immersion stream, which takes them all the way to Grade 8. So, my wife and I have to decide soon if we want them to enter the French immersion or English streams. What are your thoughts and experiences?
I'm conflicted. When I was living in New Brunswick from 2004 to 2007 I saw the worst of the French Immersion programs, where kids would graduate with little workable French. New Brunswick had other problems in education as well, as through their full inclusion system, you had everyone, regardless of ability in the same classes, meaning that in most classes in the English-only stream, you could have several mentally challenged kids (with several attendants in the class to handle them), demotivated native kids (most dropped out at 16), unchallenged gifted kids, etc... The result of this was that any parent in New Brunswick who wanted the best for their kid, put them in the French stream, just to ensure that their kids had the best group of motivated, able-minded kids and like-minded parents. NB has become so separated between English and French streams, that parents of kids in the English stream have lobbied to end immersion, as their kids are being left behind. There was a LOT of politics about French in NB. All that being said, I don't want to debate all of that here though, and just wanted to give you my limited experience with French Immersion.
One of my neighbours, who is a retired French Immersion teacher has told me not to enroll them in FI, as, according to her, the kids graduate with terrible French grammar and abilities, while their expertise in the English language is dreadfully lacking, especially when they enter English universities and do not have the English terminologies in science, mathematics, etc. Her advice is that when my kids want to learn a language, that I send them to learn in in the country or province where it's spoken, since in immersion, most kids never speak the language once they leave the school doors each day. I certainly support that thinking, and will have no trouble sending my girls to Spain (or Latin America) to learn Spanish, or China to learn Mandarin, etc. for a year or so before, after or during their university studies. Obviously, French, specifically is not a priority for me, but another language certainly is.
While I'm no scholar, I very much value proper use of the English language, and would hate to have my girls not sufficiently talented and proficient in their mother language. One of my girls is currently seeing a speech therapist in order to deal with some pronunciation (no, there's no such word as pronounciation) challenges, and sticking at least that kid into FI would, I fear stifle her progress. Her sister may stand a better chance. However, their current English-stream Junior Kindergarten teacher advises against FI as well, for both kids.
Obviously, French, specifically is not a priority for me, but another language certainly is, but not to the detriment of their English or overall education. I've already got them in music lessons, so they're learning a language of sort there, and certainly in countries like Switzerland, they're able to learn several languages at once, though I sense that education in Switzerland is somehow more intense and quickly culls out the glue eaters at the front door.
Anyway, I'd value your thoughts on French Immersion, as I need to make a decision within the next month or so. If I choose against FI, they can't try FI again until Grade 4, if then at all. Thx.
I'm conflicted. When I was living in New Brunswick from 2004 to 2007 I saw the worst of the French Immersion programs, where kids would graduate with little workable French. New Brunswick had other problems in education as well, as through their full inclusion system, you had everyone, regardless of ability in the same classes, meaning that in most classes in the English-only stream, you could have several mentally challenged kids (with several attendants in the class to handle them), demotivated native kids (most dropped out at 16), unchallenged gifted kids, etc... The result of this was that any parent in New Brunswick who wanted the best for their kid, put them in the French stream, just to ensure that their kids had the best group of motivated, able-minded kids and like-minded parents. NB has become so separated between English and French streams, that parents of kids in the English stream have lobbied to end immersion, as their kids are being left behind. There was a LOT of politics about French in NB. All that being said, I don't want to debate all of that here though, and just wanted to give you my limited experience with French Immersion.
One of my neighbours, who is a retired French Immersion teacher has told me not to enroll them in FI, as, according to her, the kids graduate with terrible French grammar and abilities, while their expertise in the English language is dreadfully lacking, especially when they enter English universities and do not have the English terminologies in science, mathematics, etc. Her advice is that when my kids want to learn a language, that I send them to learn in in the country or province where it's spoken, since in immersion, most kids never speak the language once they leave the school doors each day. I certainly support that thinking, and will have no trouble sending my girls to Spain (or Latin America) to learn Spanish, or China to learn Mandarin, etc. for a year or so before, after or during their university studies. Obviously, French, specifically is not a priority for me, but another language certainly is.
While I'm no scholar, I very much value proper use of the English language, and would hate to have my girls not sufficiently talented and proficient in their mother language. One of my girls is currently seeing a speech therapist in order to deal with some pronunciation (no, there's no such word as pronounciation) challenges, and sticking at least that kid into FI would, I fear stifle her progress. Her sister may stand a better chance. However, their current English-stream Junior Kindergarten teacher advises against FI as well, for both kids.
Obviously, French, specifically is not a priority for me, but another language certainly is, but not to the detriment of their English or overall education. I've already got them in music lessons, so they're learning a language of sort there, and certainly in countries like Switzerland, they're able to learn several languages at once, though I sense that education in Switzerland is somehow more intense and quickly culls out the glue eaters at the front door.
Anyway, I'd value your thoughts on French Immersion, as I need to make a decision within the next month or so. If I choose against FI, they can't try FI again until Grade 4, if then at all. Thx.
