How much exposure do kids need to learn a new language?

[dippywhentired]

We're in Switzerland, not sure for how long. My eldest DD is 4 but because of her birthday is too young for Kindergarten this year. As she would have started in Reception in UK this year, we decided to put her in the International school. She has been there since August, loves it, is enjoying learning, reading, etc. but hasn't leant any German. Initially, we were only planning on staying for 2 years, but this could be extended and we may want her to go into the Swiss system the year after next (into Grade 1). My DH thinks she should go to Kindergarten in the summer so she can become fluent. I don't agree as that would mean her going from full-time school to just mornings of playing, and if we do go back to UK in a couple of years, she will be very behind. I am proposing that she stays where she is for the mornings (where she's happy, learning, etc), but goes to a nursery a couple of afternoons, does a sport's club and something like Scouts. We have also started putting German TV on instead of CBeebies. Will this be enough? All thoughts/ experiences welcome!

Thank you everybody for your input. We have decided to keep her where she is, certainly for next year, but to up sport, etc with local children. It is really complicated by the Swiss-German factor as all after school clubs, etc are in this, not German. If we are still here in a couple of years, we will consider going into the Swiss system, but she will only be eligible to go into Grade 1 in 2 years' time anyway, unless she could skip a year of Kindergarten. She started a sport club yesterday and had a lot of fun, it was a big group that she's not used to, so all good for building confidence, if not her language skills!