I'm considering enrolling my 3.5 yo in a bilingual mandarin summer program. We don't speak the language at home, but I'm hoping to have her continue with mandarin class during the school year.
Anyone have experience enrolling their preschooler in a bilingual or immersion program where you don't speak the language at home? How did your LO handle the new language? Did they dislike school at all?
kiwi / 705 posts
My kids have been with a Spanish speaking nanny since my daughter was 3 months old and my son has been with her since birth.
When my daughter was 2 years old we started her in a 2 morning a week mandarin immersion preschool program. The first month was rough but we don't know if that was the language or the transition to preschool. After that month she really thrived and loved preschool. She has only been there 7 months but her mandarin comprehension seems to be coming along really well. We know she knows a few words and can count to 10, etc. but mostly when we think she's speaking mandarin we have no way to actually confirm it since we don't speak!
We are planning to up her to 3 mornings a week this summer and 4 in the fall. This fall my son will start 2 mornings a week when he is 19 months.
We have loved the whole multi-lingual process. It is so fun to hear their first words come in a mix of Spanish and English and we are over the moon whenever she sings a little song in mandarin.
This is definitely the time to do it, it'll never be this easy for them again!
grapefruit / 4584 posts
We are planning to send DD1 to a bilingual Spanish/English program. DH and I both speak Spanish on a functional, but nowhere near a fluent/native level.
Both of my girls are really excited about Spanish, and count/know their colors/say some basic things in Spanish, unprompted by us. Their main exposure is through DORA (groan...), but I'm happy to capitalize on this interest by having them learn as much as they can at school. It also gives me an excuse to brush up so I'll be able to help her with homework (the school is preK - 5th grade).
You should absolutely go for it - if your LO really dislikes it, you don't have to continue if you don't want to.
pineapple / 12566 posts
Definitely go for it! You know my two are in German immersion. We don't speak it at home, but they are both completely fluent!
Is the program full immersion or is there an English component? When my son started he was 2 (it was a bilingual program) and I'm pretty sure he had no idea what was really going on for the first 2-3 months. But he did start using words at home pretty quickly and within 6 months he could definitely communicate. Now they are both in full immersion and doing very well with it. They sometimes play in German together at home.
honeydew / 7917 posts
We considered a Spanish immersion program for LO1, but it wasn't the right fit for us. The school required a lot of parental involvement to continue the learning experience at home. Neither of us speak Spanish, and I'm not ready for the language commitment. We ended up getting into a local Charter school that is a better fit for us, and we're happy with our decision.
coconut / 8430 posts
@lamariniere: That's amazing that your kids are playing in German now! My concern with my LO is that since it is only a summer program (and it is bilingual, not immersion) she won't actually learn enough during the 2 months to understand and she'll have negative associations with mandarin or with school. We plan to keep her at her (English speaking) Montessori for the school year, though they have an after school mandarin class once a week.
coconut / 8430 posts
@PinkElephant: my LO has picked up a bunch of Spanish vocabulary from Dora too. 
@JCCovi: yes it's hard to know if they are learning the language when you can't speak to them in it!
@yin: the right school is so important for both the child and the family!
pineapple / 12053 posts
@yin: interesting!
We're buying a home where the local elementary has a dual immersion program for Spanish/English. I'm not fluent but took 4 years and also lived in Italy/spoke Italian so I think I can pick it back up again. DD1 won't enroll until Fall 2018 though so I have some time to research!
pineapple / 12566 posts
@sunny: hmm. After seeing how it worked with my kids, I am definitely in the any language exposure is good camp. I would say to try it this summer and see how it goes and then decide from there if you want to continue with the once a week program.
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
Yes, our daughter is in German immersion and we don't know the language ourselves. It's been fine so far! It's been 6 months and she's able to communicate in German now, pretty amazing. The summer program sounds like a good jump start for your DD to continue Mandarin in the fall. I don't see the harm!
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