Post by Melissa on Aug 4, 2016 10:36:54 GMT 9
My two youngest girls go to a ml school. You have to come from a ml speaking family to attend the school. The children speak ml all day, inside and outside the classroom. They are very strict about only using ml at school.
I have been looking forward for them to attend camp to further work on their ml abilities and form friendships through the summer in the ml. My younger son has been working hard to "catch-up" in the ml. There were several factors that prevented me from speaking ml consistently when the children were younger. We also are paying more and travelling farther every day to have our children attend this ml camp. But I was excited that especially my son (who didn't qualify to start at the ml school because he is older and not fluent enough in the ml) would finally be immersed in the ml and forced to pick it up.
I was very disappointed when my girls came home after the first day of camp and told me that ALL the children only speak the ML to each other. They reported that the counsellors speak ml and I have heard all the children speaking fluent ml to the counsellors.
Was I too naive to think that the children would be expected to speak the ml and would follow through on naturally speaking ml to each other when they have the ability and the environment is set up to promote its use?
I challenged my daughter to try speaking ml to a peer today and see what language the child answers back in. She said the other child answered back in the ml, and that the counsellor said she was proud of her to hear her speaking ml. But I get the sense that the play quickly turned back to the ML.
I'm curious if others have had a similar experience? Would you complain to the camp directors or is expecting children to use ml in a day camp setting an unrealistic expectation?