Immigrant education

[BillyH]

My fiancee's son speaks no English. How can I find out what is offered in my area for his education? I assume there is a special course he would be required to take to learn English first?

[wxman]

Go to you local school administration and find out if they have a program. I know in my city they have a special school for immigrants and they teach them English. I will have to go through the same process when my fiancee brings her daughter here. The child will probably be in that school the first year.

[Bruno]

Billy, How old is you fiance son ??? ... When my russian ex-wife have come in Belgium with her Daughter, Anastassia was only 3.5 year old... she have stay in children garden, she have make holiday in children farm, ... always with other child... 6 month after, she was speaking better Dutch that me... at 6 year old, when she have begin the basic school, she was the best of his classe...

When he is young, immersion with other children is the best methode...

[BillyH]

He is 7 years old.

[Bruno]

7 year old... some real course will be needed for be ready for school... but don't be too much fixed of this... children learn very fast but find boring usual way of course... i don't know if this exist in US, but in Belgium, we have language camp for children... it is like holliday with a lot of game but special organised for learn the basic of language to foreign child...

Maybe search the book you have use when yourself was young... these with big drawing for definition... maybe yourself can be a good professor... show each object home and say the name in English... use all your free time for your new son...

Now, maybe some US man here can better help you with more good addresse for formation...

[Elen]

My friend moved to Japan with her family when her daughter was 6 years old. In one year the girl have learned Japan language without any teacher  and was able to study in japan school 

[jb]

Billy,

For a 7 y.o., you just put him in school and let nature take it's course.  In a years time you will have a little American kid on your hands.  His playmates/classmates will teach him English better and quicker than any class you could enroll him in.

Billy, they will probably put him right into first or second grade with some after school tutoring class in ESL. I doubt if they will have a special school just for immigrants. It will be pretty tough on him at first but at that age he will pick up the lingo pretty quickly.  And of course you will be there to help out during this transition period, right?

[ConnerVT]

My son arrived at age 6 1/2 knowing maybe 20 words of English (Yes, no, come here, I love you, Spiderman...).  Arriving at the end of March, we waited about two weeks, and then enrolled him into Kindergarten.  He's now 6 1/2, in the first grade, and will talk your ear off in English (then talk your other ear off in Russian! )

All American schools receiving Federal aid must assist all special needs students.  This includes the learning disabled, the handicapped, and those who English is not their native language.  Some schools are better equiped for this than others.  Our school is wonderful, and our son has needed little special assistance.  My best advice is to stay active and visible to the schools teachers and administrators.

At this age, they are sponges.  It is really amazing how quickly they learn.  Our biggest concern?  His Russian language skills have been slipping.  My wife tutors him, and this summer when we are back in Russia, we are hiring a school teacher to work with him a couple of hours each morning.

[ConnerVT]

Oops... Just reread my post.  He arrived at age 5 1/2.  Guess I shouldn't drink champagne to celebrate my father in law's b'day...

[Noyrt]

My fiancee's son speaks no English. How can I find out what is offered in my area for his education? I assume there is a special course he would be required to take to learn English first?

Where in GA are you.  I live North of ATlanta and know a school in that area. 

[BillyH]

I live in Augusta. What is ESL?

[KenC]

English as a Second Language