I just found out they have an opening for my daughter in the Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Program in another school. They told me they were going to do an assessment test in Spanish. She can understand some of it but she has trouble speaking it. Does anyone know what the assessment consists of? Or familiar with the program? I'm extremely excited/nervous because its tomorrow, the same day of her back to school night for her school! She's going to be starting Kindergarten and both schools start on Wednesday. We're sort of in a limbo right now.
I wouldn't worry, there isn't any prepping her. Either she knows enough or she doesn't.
Good luck!
Usually, immersion programs start in K and there is no previous language skills needed.
I'd say if your kid is bright, put her in the Spanish immersion program. It can only be a benefit.
Those are questions that you need to ask the people who are organizing the assessment. My DD has done dual-language but her program may not be the same as yours. I identified her as a native English speaker and she was placed based on that. Some programs ID the kids who are native speakers so they know who to sit with who to get all the kids moving forward in the language or to ID who may need reading help or math help in their native language.
My kids have been in French Immersion since kindergarten. There was no testing prior to starting, and the expectation was that they spoke English and they were there to learn French.
The only thing I can think of would be if you speak said language in the home or not.
When we were stationed in Quebec my son was put in an immersion program to speak French he did great for a while but since we did not speak French in the home he was switched to a different group that spoke English and not French at home. He linguistics for English are a bit different as he "explains" everything. In French there are no shortcuts for things and everything is explained. So his French has popped up in his English over the years. It was hard in the beginning to figure out why a kid would give an order rather than a request.
Let the school do the placing and enjoy your child learning a new language. I had French from 3rd to 8th grade but wanted Spanish. If I had gone to 3rd grade a year before or after I would have had Spanish. That was how it was done in my youth not sure they do it still in New Jersey.
the other S.
PS Having a second language helped me especially living overseas as a military wife and living on the economy in Europe.
That seems 'weird' assuming she is English speaking. Most of my friends' kids in the program did not need to speak both languages. Actually most came from a very English only household. I would call and ask someone in the program or google it and read reviews on it.
I sent one friend a text to see what was expected. She is in Northern Cal (south of you though). When/if she answers I will let you know what she experienced.
edit: what I meant by weird, is if this assessment has an impact on her getting into the program. My friend said is it a big commitment on the parents' part. The child is expected to say in the program for a number of years (in her case 1st thru 5th grade). I think it is a wonderful opportunity.
