Lately, I have seen posts by our SpanglishBaby familia about whether or not a Spanish immersion program is the right fit for their child. Well, interestingly, it is a topic that has been something my little familia has also been debating.
Even before I had Sabrina I was scoping out our foreign language schools options. I got on several waiting lists and eventually got into all of them! In fact, I keep my nena on a rolling waiting list because you never know. I was so set on foreign language exposure that I did not even bother looking into English child development (aka day care options or mothers-day-out programs). I had my heart and eyes focused on the foreign language component that it, unfortunately, blurred my sense of vision. I lost sight of what was really important — my daughter’s well being, her happiness, and what she needed in school.
As I scoped out language schools I started to notice a trend. Most of them seem to have a stricter and more regimented program for teaching and taking care of children. I started to wonder if this had something to do with the ways children are taught and cared for in Latin American countries. I know that western/North American child rearing practices can be very different than other parts of the world, so surely this, too, affects the way children are regarding in Latin American day care centers and schools.
As I have mentioned in other posts, we love the little school Sabrina is enrolled in now. They value linguistic diversity and that, to me, is priceless. We have had to consider other options because it was now too far from our home, but to be honest, I was not entirely happy with the stricter and more regimented schedule they have in place. I won’t get into details, but I will say that I recently checked out an English school in town and walked into a whole new world.
The child was at the center of their “play-curriculum.” If my baby girl wants to paint, she can; if she wants to play with shaving cream in a water table, she can. The place seemed happy, the kids were happy, and most importantly, they were doing things that 2 and a half year olds should be doing—socializing and playing. In other words, they don’t have to wait for art time to happen in an organized, sitting in their chair, and waiting their turn fashion.
Read: Is Bilingual Education Right for Us?
Taking the initiative to look at English schools may have happened out of necessity, but deciding that sometimes Spanish does not come first was a process. We have been speaking in Spanish to Sabrina since the day she was born and have been really consistent about it. She probably knows about 90% Spanish and 10% English.
My heart was aching and tears were swelling up in my eyes when I was forced to take a closer look at the decisions we were making about exposing my daughter to Spanish almost 100% of the day. I realized that the decisions we had made were possibly costing her opportunities to just be a kid. All she wants to do is play, socialize with other kids, and do creative things. Sure she would stay in her seat, listen to the teacher, walk in a line with her hands behind her back, but she is too young to voice her opinion or even know that there are other schools available where being a 2 ½ year old comes first, then learning Spanish.
I’m curious, what are foreign language schools/day care centers like in your city? Have you compared English versus Spanish schools? If so, did you notice a difference like I did? How are you weighing your options?
{Photo by barnabywasson}
I’m so glad you write about this. I’m between a rock and a hard place with this exact issue for my 5 year old who will be starting kindergarden in August. There are two distint options for us, the first is an english speaking school with an interesting “exploring and play” based philosophy. The other is an immersion program that in all honesty, I don’t know much about. I’m drawn to it b/c unlike me, I want my daughter to be deliberately taught Spanish in school. It’s such a valuable asset for anyone, I don’t want to rob her of the opportunity but at the same time, don’t want her to miss out on thriving at the other school that seems more “her” for lack of a better explanation. Would love to hear other thoughts. Thanks.
Hi Denise,
Honestly, it was a process for me to get to this point, in finally deciding that my daughters social needs cames first. That being said, we are consistent in speaking to her in Spanish 100% of the time so she is Spanish dominant. I guess if I were in your position I may try out the Spanish immersion school and see how she adjusts and see how you adjust to with the way they are teaching. Thought
you may have to switch and go through a transition at least you can say you gave it a shot. I feel good in knowing that we tried Spanish daycare and learned that it really wasnt for us….at least not now. Also, the Spanish daycare my daughter was in had many, many positive characteristics. There is a big part of me that really belives in what the school is doing—like not franchsising, for one.
Suerte, Denise. In the end, I think its important to do what you are doing and taking the time to think about each option.
I am glad that you wrote about this. I have a three year old and she is in a co-op school. At the beginning I was very disappointment of the way that Pre-school are in the USA. (english base). I could not understand the play base curriculum. As a Latina I went to pre-school when I was two year old. The structure was very rigid. So, I remember be sit at a table and practice writing and reading. Everything was very structure and nothing flexible. So, I was expecting that here. But having the opportunity to parent teach at my daughter’s school I learned that they still learning vocabulary, math, colors, etc but in their own space without pressure. She surprise me when the teacher is reading to her in English and she translate the key words in Spanish for the teacher. I get the conclusion that she will keep both language as far I exposed her to both and give her the opportunity to use them.