@parentologist
We will probably have to agree to disagree on both of the above.
(But I’m glad that those two students fared well. It’s a good reminder that this is also a very valid experience. )
@Carpediem2020
I remember that being my frustration too: sophistication of self-expression. I realized I sounded far less educated and smart than I actually was, and it was really hard. And exhausting. And I had zero anglophone friends, so it wasn’t that I was speaking English all day. Whether to repeat or not is of course up to you and son to determine. I will say: it is done very often in boarding schools. And, a supportive community surrounding him all the time might help develop deeper mastery of the subtle elements of expression. My husband’s English improved a ton when we moved to the US for him to attend graduate school. My gut would be to repeat, assuming financially and socially that is a workable option. Maybe it’s better to master sophisticated expression in a supportive high school environment than at college, all things being equal. On the other hand, eventually your son will probably flip into a deeper mastery, and whether it’s in high school or college, maybe it doesn’t matter? Life’s a journey and I think it’s really cool that he is on his multi-lingual, multi-cultural path. My husband spoke HORRIBLE English when he joined one of the top business schools in the country and you know what – he figured it out and got it together and graduated two years later with honors.
Hm. I have probably not been helpful.