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I could imagine a dual-language program that could work but it would have to be rigorous, and everyone involved would have to be motivated. Thats hard to do across the board in a public school setting. It may be possible as a special program offered that kids can volunteer for. But, as I say, the only example I am personally familiar with didn't work very well. It wasn't "rigorous" and the kids weren't motivated.

What they did was to offer the hard classed in English, and the "soft" classes, such as art, music, and gym, in Spanish. But the classroom spanish study was not sufficient and consequently the kids were clueless. And, frankly, didn't care, either.

But I would like to see more importance attached to foreign language training. At one time Spanish was commonly taught in the lower grades, and Spanish, French, and German were common in the upper grades. I don't know what happened to all of that, but its gone in a lot of places.

You also have to consider that the native Spanish speaking teacher isn't likely to be able to teach the "hard" courses, so art will be taught in Spanish and math would be taught in English. Everyone --- even hispanics -- tells me to get my kid out of dual-language before 5th grade because the quality of the teacher for half their class isn't up to standards.

To me the best way to learn a foreign language is to go to a country that speaks it and learn it the immersion way. An hour or two every day doesn't work well and takes years. You can learn in just a couple weeks just being around only those who speak that language and you pick it up very quickly that way.