One of the most common questions we field from parents considering enrolling their child in our K-5 Spanish immersion program is “What if I don’t speak Spanish?” They are concerned about helping their child with homework and struggling to communicate with teachers. These are normal worries that we usually acknowledge with a hearty, “Don’t worry! We’re all here to help!”
And while this is 100% true, we thought a deep dive into how families that don’t speak Spanish can also thrive at Arco Iris might offer more reassurance.
We asked Board Vice President and parent of 3 Arco Iris alum, Christa Billings, about her experience as an English speaking parent while her children were at school. Here’s what she has to say about settling in and tackling a challenge.
You're In Good Company
When Christa’s oldest child enrolled at Arco Iris, English was the main language spoken at home. She said she was not alone - that many other families had the same goal of raising bilingual children, but they themselves did not speak Spanish.
This is still true today! Many of our families do not speak Spanish at home, and they not only survive, they thrive. Our multicultural community was built to embrace families from every linguistic background, because we believe diversity makes us stronger. Our team is prepared to communicate with families – both in Spanish and English effectively and we provide all school communications in both languages. Open communication between families and teachers is encouraged!
Our small size really works to our advantage here - we can get to know each family personally and take a little more time to provide individualized guidance or communication. You’ll find quickly that our community is incredibly supportive and always willing to help.
We're all rooting for your child's success here.
Your Involvement Still Matters
Christa says that even if you don’t speak Spanish, your involvement as a parent is still critical to everyone’s success. She stayed involved with her children’s learning by helping with math concepts, organizational skills and study habits - all skills that don’t require Spanish. She also encourages new families to get involved at school. We invite parents to volunteer at school as classroom helpers, lunch supervisors, crossing guards and more. We want you to feel connected to school life without needing to conjugate a single verb.
Make It a Family Adventure
Letting your child take the lead as maestra or maestro can build agency and a fun family culture! Enrolling in a Spanish immersion program is a great opportunity to model life-long learning and a growth mindset to your child, so Christa recommends learning alongside your student. Be open about the fact that you're figuring it out together, and while it’s not always easy, there is so much joy in tackling a challenge together! Sure, your children might giggle at your pronunciation sometimes, but maintaining a sense of humor as everyone is learning is key to persevering through challenges.
Let Technology Work For You
Google Translate is a miracle tool! Simply take a photo of the text you need translated in the app and boom - instant translation! It’s not 100% perfect all the time, but using context clues will help you make sense of the translation.
The other good news is that we have a No Homework Policy (more to come on that soon), which means there will be few opportunities to worry about translations. We respect the fact that your child has spent the day working hard in 2 languages and that their time at home is a chance to rest and engage in other meaningful activities - not to stress over homework!
As Christa's family and countless others have shown, not speaking Spanish isn't a barrier to your child's success—it's an opportunity for your whole family to grow together. And with our supportive community, bilingual teachers, and a bit of helpful technology, you’ll find yourself in good hands. If you are ready to take the leap and give your child the gift of a bilingual education, hop over to our enrollment page or give us a call at (503) 372-6052. You are welcome here!
About Arco Iris
Arco Iris Spanish Immersion is a small tuition-free public charter school providing a rich, immersive Spanish language experience and robust academics in a true multicultural setting. Centrally located off 217, between SW Portland and Tigard, we serve K-5 students in the greater Beaverton area to become bilingual and biliterate leaders of the future. Get to know us on Instagram @arcoiris_spanishimmersion and on the web at www.arcoirisschool.org. We’re enrolling for Fall 2025-26. Bilingual Education: A Rainbow of Possibilities