French Montessori immersion

[freistms]

So how about this. My DDs' school sent home a paper yesterday saying they are starting a French Montessori immersion primary classroom at the school this fall. I am not sure how I feel about it. The immersion concept is cool to me, but the school only goes through kindy and I am not sure how we could keep it going after that. Neither DH nor I know any French. The school is pretty new (this is only the second year) and I feel like maybe this is a little bit gimmicky, you know?

So what do you think? We love the school so far (it's been about 5 weeks and both girls are really happy), and DDs are both already signed up for regular Montessori stuff for the fall there, so it's not like we have to or anything. It's just an option.

[Koloe]

Are they planning to expand the age group they service? Are you planning to keep them in Montessori past kindergarten? Are there other French immersion options in the area?

I like the concept of language immersion schools and would jump at the chance to combine that with Montessori. Perhaps you and DH could learn some French along with your child/ren? I don't see how it would hurt them to have it.

[Rose-Roget]

Wow - you're not in the Midwest are you??? I'd jump at the chance, even if my ds weren't being raised bilingual! Does it cost extra money? If not, I would say go for it!

Even if there is not another French-immersion program for beyond primary, I would think it an awesome way to start off. Your dd's aren't going to not learn English since it's around them all the time, and learning a second language early in life is the best time. Plus, there is research to suggest that early exposure to other langauges can increase a child's cognitive flexibility and creativity, as well as their cultural sensitivities, to an extent. Keep in mind that many of the concepts your dd's will be learning in Montessori are not purely language-based, and they will still be able to carry that knowledge in the future, and they will be able to transfer the information they learn from French to English.

IMO it sounds like a great opportunity, even if they are only able to have it for a couple of years. Good luck!

[JulieSilk]

That sounds great! I wish I had something like that when I was young. Being bi-lingual in priceless.

[freistms]

So it turns out we don't really have a choice. They aren't adding another classroom. They hired a french assistant for the classroom, and she is going to be speaking to the children exclusively in french during the day. The directress will still be speaking english, so it isn't a strict "immersion" program, but they decided they wanted to step it up from the weekly 30 minute spanish lessons they did last year. Very cool! A nice balance, I think!

We are in the midwest, btw. Ohio, of all places.

I think I will be trying to learn some french this year. I took latin in high school, so I have no verbal foreign language skills. We'd been thinking of trying to work with the girls in a foreign language as a family, but french wasn't one we had considered. I guess the decision was just made for us. Should be fun!

[Rose-Roget]

Originally Posted by freistms

We are in the midwest, btw. Ohio, of all places.

Wow - that's amazing! Good for Ohio. A little far of a commute for us, though, unfortunately (we're in Nebraska). One of our Montessoris does French, but as a lesson, not in the immersion sense.

I'm glad that you are comfortable with the balance of French to English, and I wish your girls much success! It's a beautiful language, so have fun with it.

[MattBronsil]

You don't have to answer this, or you can do it in private message, but curious what school it is. Since you said Ohio, I'm especially interested to know who's starting that. It sounds like a unique idea to have someone speaking one language all the time and another person speaking another language. I'd love to stay in contact with the school itself and see how it goes.

[freistms]

http://renaissancemontessori.org/

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[nkm1968]

The website looks very awesome!!!!! I hope the school plans on adding an aftercare option, and an elementary program---but with you being in Cinci, it will hopefully be totally viable to transition to an excellent public Montessori elementary, middle, and high school..........I have actually tried infinite times to get DH to consider moving down there just so my kids could eventually go to Clark....

[Flor]

That is awesome. I've always wished our Montessori did more foreign language. The daycare group did some Spanish, but the primary and elementary don't really.

[freistms]

The school has a generous and reasonable before and after care program, including extended day kindy. And the girls are in "summer camp" this summer. It was initially just supposed to be the primary class in the summer camp programs, but the toddlers are particating, too. (What they are doing is a theme week every other week or so to mix it up for the summer - this week was circus week, with professional clowns.) I don't know if an elementary program is in the works or not. The woman who runs the program has been with several larger programs and wanted to get back to a smaller school, so I don't think branching out is in the immediate future. But you are right, in Cincinnati, there are abundant Montessori resources, both public and private. We will probably move into the Cincinnati Public School District just so that all the options are available to us (right now we live in a community school district a few miles north of the city school district boundaries).

[BCFD]

Originally Posted by freistms

http://renaissancemontessori.org/

:

Sounds great!!! My DD's school website uses that exact GO MONTESSORI layout. For a second I thought I clicked on the wrong link!! It looks exactly like their website!

[freistms]

Haha! I figured the website was canned. It is beautiful, though! The school and how it is run is what we love, anyway.

[tatermom]

I'm jealous-- I'd love a French immersion Montessori! (As long as they don't skimp on the Montessori side!) There is an AMI school here that does the same format with Spanish-- the directress speaks English with the kids and the assistant speaks Spanish. It probably works well.