I wasn’t going to post a comment, until I saw some people were against French Immersion.

I took late French Immersion, starting in Grade 7. I went on to attend one of those five week courses in Quebec in hight school and ultimately major in French at MUN. I never quite felt my French was up to par, though, and some of the little kids that I met at various French events could speak French really well. At age 14, I was super impressed.

I don’t know about “that kind of parent” but I know I would want my kid to be “that kind of kid.” As I see it, French Immersion students are a little smarter and generally more well-rounded.

Since we spoke last week on this issue I had to come on and have a read. It seems that people have very strong views on FI or English. However, what really matters is what will work for YOUR own child. As we all well know, all children are different and I would like to believe that parents know their children best and therefore should make the decision based on that. What works for one child will not work for the next child.

My personal view… my son is going to kindergarten in September 2008 and we are struggling as well with what to do. I feel he has mastered pre kindergarten skills very well, he can write his name, he knows the alaphabet upper and lower case, he knows where he lives, etc. These are skills that will be reinforced in kindergarten… I have the fear that my child (because he already has these skills) will become idle… when he is idle he can be trouble. I think the introduction of a second langeuage will keep his interest. I feel it will work for him… however it is not written in stone that he will stay in FI.

That is my view… maybe I am completely in left field but I feel it will work for my son… and that is all I have to worry about… what I feel is best for him.

Take care, I am sure we will speak again soon.

All the best.

Warm Regards

Biby Cletus – Blog

Steve is quick to add New Brunswick as a prime career location for your french-fluent child.

I understand that parents have to justify the decisions they make, but let’s face it: Most of our children are not going to end up in careers or locations where they need to speak French.

So ok, let’s add New Brunswick to the list of great opportunities.

And don’t forget France.

And maybe we should learn Spanish in case we want to work as a nurse in San Antonio, Texas.

Yes, let’s learn Spanish… in kindergarten!

Without a doubt, learning a language may open doors for your children — in specific areas.

So does playing the violin.

My 5 year-old daughter will do late french. If she becomes interested in languages before that, or if she goes in a direction that the knowledge of another language will benefit her, I shall give her that opportunity. She’s bright and she’ll get it.

But not in kindergarten.

That’s a decision I have made that suits my family.

For me, that’s the no brainer: A “normal” kindergarten with every chance in the world to enrich her language skills in the future.

Everyone can only make the best choice for their family. While I do agree with Trudy and Mombie — that there is an “elite” attitude in some circles (you wouldn’t know but doing french was like going to the polo club!) — I have friends and acquaintances who did the research and chose to put their kids in french for the right reasons, out of interest and love of the language. I think that’s great and I respect their decision.

But I cannot agree that your child will have an advantage over mine because they did early french.

They don’t and they won’t.

Like Trudy, I get annoyed at people who act as if we are somehow depriving him rather than acting in (what we feel are) his best interests. Not that anyone here is doing that, I mean in face to face interactions.

I speak French quite well, and can read and understand a lot of spoken French just from my Gr 6-12 French and 2 courses in University. I figure The Boy can always amp up the French later if he is interested or if it is necessary.

Tough decisions all around, this parenting business.

My son is very verbal and has a great grasp of the language but he is not too interested in things like the alphabet and reading. I know this might be a boy thing or maybe his age (athough I could read at his age) but it might also help us figure out if this is right for us. Like I said, keep the opinions coming. I appreciate them all.

Here’s what we had to deal with…

1. Learning in BOTH languages is slowed up front. They catch up by the time they get to grade six.
2. Helping with homework was sometimes a challenge, particularly in math as the years went on.
3. English expression (written) suffered. But I don’t know if it would be better if he was taught exclusively in English. I’ve met many adults who cannot write properly.
4. He won’t speak French in front of us. It is school work to converse in French.

I’d say do it. Helmut is wrong… there’s plenty of requirements to speak French outside of Ottawa and Quebec. New Brunswick is truly a bilingual province. It’s also close enough to “‘ome” that one wouldn’t mind so much if your future adult kids moved there for work.

Being bilingual opens more doors for your children. It’s a no-brainer. Go for it.

C’est tout. Merci.

I just resent the implication (which I have gotten from some people) that there’s something “wrong” with me or that I’m somehow giving my kids less of an education because they are attending school in English.