How beneficial would a few weeks of "total language immersion" be for a 6/7yo?

[castille]

A French friend, who is very concerned that her children should grow up speaking good English, is considering sending her nearly 7yo to stay with friends in the UK for a few weeks. She would live with them and go to school for that time.

We were talking about it and I said I thought that in that time she would learn plenty of playground English and learn to get by in domestic situations. But I'm not sure how much of it she would remember long-term.

Would she pick up and hold on to a good accent, for example?

Language exchanges can be terribly lonely. Even as a teenager. I wouldn't push it on mine, having done 4 as a teenager, even though they definitely improved my languages.

I have cultivated friends in various countries instead who I'm hoping to dump my dc on at various points while I take unfettered foreign holidays nearby.

I agree Fennel. We haven't pushed them on my elder stepson (13) yet.

it depends on the children, but I think 6-7 yo is too early to send them away for so long.
I was 12 when I first came here to learn English. It was only 4 weeks, and I was very keen, and I am not shy, and my 2 best friends were coming too, and I was very motivated and everything, and I still cried a few times at night, after a couple of mis-communication experiences. You can feel very lonely and vulnerable.

It did help my English, but only because I was studying English at school, so there was some continuity. I think there needs to be a follow-up of some kind, otherwise it will be lost.

I didn't go on any exchanges - too much of a wimp. And I won't be forcing them on my children either. The whole idea fills me with dread, in fact.

Which is why the idea of sending a 7yo away for 2 months got me wondering if the potential benefits would outweigh the enormous stress I personally would feel! Her parents are much less stress-able than me though, and are very focussed on their children's futures.

I loved language exchange to the UK! My first was in Penzance in 1985, but it wasn't terribly adventurous, as it was organized by my Liceo's (does "liceo" sound pushy parent enough??? ) English teacher, so I knew most of the people I travelled with.
It was good fun. The highlight was the roller disco and "the special" we could acquire at the arcade. It consisted in a doughnut, ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate. I came back after three weeks with 5 more kilos

Ups, I didn't get that this 7 yr old is going on her own, I thought she was going with her parents. I agree she is too young to spend so much time without family...

fennel, are you "grooming me"?

it would be mutually beneficial, don't you think? To be able to send children to people they already know and are already friends with, in another country.

From my experience such experience does wonders for the linguistic abilities. For past three years I have been sending my daughter (now 11 years old) to Poland, for 4 to 6 weeks. After each visit the improvement is remarkable, she even started to read in Polish. She does not speak Polish at home or at school, so I must admit I am astonished that her Polish ?comes back? to her so well after each visit.

Fili, do you speak to her in Polish at home? I try to talk to them in English, but I'm not sure how beneficial it is (english is my second language, anywya).

Fennel . absolutely. As long as we get to spend time together as well [needy].

francagoestohollywood, no, I don't. When we moved to UK my daughter understood English very well but did not want to speak it at all, so we started speaking only English. I think it was a right choice, even though my Polish now is atrocious.

getbackinyouryurtjimjams

In reply to your hijack...

Would I be right in assuming that you're thinking about sites to practice your spoken language rather than kanji and grammar?
There are loads of sites, but the only one I know of specifically is
www.japanesepod101.com
It's a site with downloadable podcast Japanese lessons of a variety of levels.
It seems quite good, but unfortunately isn't free, although you can try it for a month or so on a free trial.
(If you do decide to sign up, wait a while after your trial before doing it and they'll keep emailing you with cheaper and cheaper subscription offers!)

Sorry that I can't recommend any other specific sites. I'm afraid I don't have much time to study these days and can do all the practice I need with my Japanese friends.

Sorry to hijack but RuthChan, I wanted to ask you, are you coming to Belgium in the end?

Hi LongtimeinBrussels!!!

Thank you so much for remembering me!
(I'm feeling the MN love!!)

Yes, we are indeed coming to Brussels.
We're in the middle of chaotic preparations as I type and we will probably be arriving in the middle of August, though the date is not set yet.
We have found a place to live in Waterloo, which looks quite nice, but much else remains up in the air...
I'm still thinking about maternity hospitals, doctors, schools etc.

Hmmm, how to give you my details without revealing all on mumsnet! I don't know so much about Waterloo as I live in town but I can't advise you strongly enough to join the BCT. When my boys were younger the Waterloo group was one of the largest groups. They will be able to help you with all the questions you have (hospitals, doctors, schools). In the newsletter there is the e-mail address of the organiser of the Waterloo group so you could get in touch with her straight away. Have just looked at the website and you could most probably get that information online once you've joined without having to wait for the newsletter. www.bctbelgium.com/

LongtimeinBrussles...

To avoid continuing this highjack, please see the new thread I'm starting to you...!!