What kind of questions to ask if wanted to start a bilingue kindergarten school?

Question

Wanted to start a bilingue school and no idea of questions to ask the education officers concerning this programme.

Answer 1

I am not sure but I think you have a very good idea and hope you get the approval you need, good luck

Answer 2

Don't waste your time.  The best kindergartners are taught in English.  Language studies should begin later.

Answer 3

Just ask them what they think you ought to know, they should be able to point you to all kinds of resources.

Here's some sites that may have some info for you.

http://www.pommedapi.org/

http://brj.asu.edu/articles/ar5.html

http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/lo-ol/publica...

One thing though - have you considered teaching completely in the minority language for your region?  (ex - French in Alberta; English in French-speaking Quebec)

Many ECE educators find that children in a truly bilingual program will ignore the second language, and wait for the teachers to speak in the language they already know, so hear the story, but don't learn the second language.

I have experienced the French language system for pre-schoolers in three different provinces (we move a lot)  and found that when my kids were in a bilingual program , they learned no French.  (but their French friends learned English, because the whole town around them was English)

Now, they're in a strictly French program, and they can't just ignore the French and wait for the teacher to translate.  Their comprehension was perfect in just a few weeks.  The French kids in the program are picking up English quickly, as they hear it around them, and their friends speak it outside (when the teachers aren't listening).  Ultimately, it's working much better to produce all bilingual kids.

This system also works better in the long run, as the kids pick up written English very quickly when they learn it in 4th grade, and are completely caught up with the English school board kids by 7th grade.