Should You Enroll Your Child in Heritage Language School?

(Or will it just become another thing on your already overflowing to-do list?)

Let’s talk about the weekend heritage language school debate. Or in other words…
“Will this actually help my child become bilingual, or will we all just end up exhausted and cranky by Sunday afternoon?”

If you’re thinking about enrolling your child in a weekend language school and wondering if it’s really worth it, you’re not alone. Every week, parents message me asking some version of this question:

“My child already speaks a bit of the home language, but I’m worried they’ll lose it all if we don’t.”
“I want them to learn to read & write but I also don’t want to drive an extra 90 minutes every weekend”
“Honestly… I just want to make sure they don’t hate the language and I didn’t have a great experience.”

All totally valid feelings about heritage language school!

So let’s unpack this — what heritage language schools actually do, who they’re best for, and how to decide if they’re the right move for your family.

First Things First: What Is a Heritage Language School?

A weekend or “heritage” language school is exactly what it sounds like — classes designed for children growing up in bilingual or immigrant families (heritage speakers) to learn, maintain, or strengthen the family’s home language and culture.

Usually, they run once a week for a few hours (typically on Saturdays or Sundays) or twice a week during the school week. They can range from community-run programs in church basements to structured academic-style schools that teach reading, writing, and cultural studies using standard government curriculums.

Their main goal? To help immigrant families keep the home language alive.

The Pros: Why Heritage Language Schools Can Be Amazing

Let’s start with the good stuff — because heritage language schools can be hugely positive on both heritage language development and cultural connection!

1. Built-in Community and Motivation

When your child walks into a classroom full of kids who also speak your home language, something can shift in them. Suddenly, they’re not the “different one” at school anymore, their not the only ones who who speak Bulgarian or Croatian or whose mom is always speaking to them in Spanish. They’re part of a group that gets it. For some bilingual kids, heritage language school is the first time they hear or see other kids who speak the same language they do.

That sense of community can be life-changing or at least language changing. It can gives kids a peer group where bilingualism is normal. And studies show that when children feel proud of their background, they’re way more motivated to use the language.

👉 I wrote a full post about this — Helping Your Child Build a Positive Bilingual Identity — if you want to understand just how important belonging and pride are in the bilingual journey.

2. Structured Language Learning (But You Don’t Have to Be the Teacher)

Let’s be honest — sometimes, parents are not the best teachers for their own kids. Not because they can’t be good (you can be a teacher or have a PhD in linguistics and still struggle with this) but because kids don’t really want to spend their free time doing Arabic workbooks or practicing letters in Korean with their dad.

A heritage school takes that pressure off. It gives your child structured exposure from a different adult, in a social setting where the language is normalized. So instead of you struggling to get your child to do reading or writing homework after 8+ hours at school, someone else takes over this role. That’s huge! And it let’s you stay the good guy creating more positive bonds and connections with the home language.

3. Reading, Writing, and Cultural Literacy

Most bilingual families are solid in the understanding department (and sometimes the speaking) — but when it comes to reading and writing, that’s where things fall apart. Heritage schools can help bridge that gap. Children learn literacy skills, traditional songs, stories, and cultural celebrations — things that deepen their connection to their roots.

The Cons: When Heritage Schools Don’t Work (and Why)

Alright, now for the real talk. Heritage language schools aren’t magic. They can be wonderful… or a total flop, depending on your child, your family dynamic, and the program itself.

1. Not All Schools Are Created Equal

Some programs are incredible — well-trained teachers, engaging materials, hands-on learning.
Others… let’s just say, less so.

If the classes are old-school “sit still and copy from the board” style, your child might quickly start associating your home language with boredom, frustration, or even shame. This is a very commonly mentioned reason why second-generation immigrant children (now adults) don’t want to send their children to weekend schools, they had bad experiences!

And once a child starts feeling resentful about the language, it’s very hard to undo that damage.

2. It Can Backfire If It’s the Only Exposure

Weekend school alone isn’t enough. Let’s do some quick math: If your child gets 2 hours of exposure on a Saturday but 70+ hours a week in the community language… well, you get the idea.

Heritage school should be a boost to your existing efforts, not the entire plan. You’ll still need to bring the language into your daily routines — through conversation, play, books, and media. Need easy ways to do that? Check out 10 Easy Ways to Add More of Your Home Language — it’s full of practical ideas you can start using today.

But if it’s mixed intentionally with other strategies as part of your family language plan then it can be helpful!

3. The Logistics (and the Weekend Fights)

Let’s not ignore the obvious: weekends are sacred. Between birthday parties, sports, errands, and the desire to just chill, adding “language class” can feel like another obligation.

If it turns into a weekly battle—tears, bribes, threats—it’s probably not worth it. The emotional cost might outweigh the linguistic benefits.

This is a very personal choice and if you don’t live close and would have to sacrifice a big commute or other non-language priorities it might not be something that is feasible for your family.

So… Should You Enroll or Not?

Here’s the truth I tell every family: Heritage schools are a tool, not a solution and the choice is yours.

If your child already has consistent exposure and positive experiences in the home language, a weekend school can be an amazing supplement.

But if your child barely hears the language or has negative feelings about it, weekend school alone won’t fix that. You’ll need to build up positive associations first.

If you live 20-minutes from the school and your weekends are fairly light, it might be an easy yes. If your family really prioritizes sport and your weekends are spend on soccer pitches or football fields, language might not be top priority.

Ask yourself:

• Does my child currently enjoy or resist the language?
• Is there enough exposure at home to support what they learn at school?
• Does this school make learning fun and relevant to kids today?
• What are our family priorities?
• Who can take our child to/from the class?

How to Make It Work (Without Losing Your Sanity)

If you do decide to enroll your child, here’s how to make it worth your time:

1. Stay Involved. Ask the teachers what they’re learning and use that at home.
   (“Oh, you learned colours today? Let’s find everything blue in the house!”)
2. Connect with other parents. Form friendships. Arrange playdates in the language.
   Community matters just as much as curriculum.
3. Keep it positive. Celebrate milestones. Skip guilt. If your child’s tired or having an off week, let it go. The long game matters more.
4. Integrate the language outside class.  Anything that keeps the language alive between Saturdays.

When You’re Still Unsure (or Your Child Already Refuses)

If you’re standing at the crossroads—part of you thinking “yes, this could help,” and the other thinking “I can’t add one more thing to our plate”—you’re not alone.

Sometimes it helps to talk through your specific situation and uncover some clarity. In my 1:1 Consultations, I help parents figure out what’s actually worth their energy based on their family’s language goals, routines, and child’s personality. Because no two bilingual journeys look the same—and what works for one family might totally flop for another!

The Bottom Line

Heritage language schools can be an incredible resource — if you go in with the right expectations.

They’re not a magic fix. But they can be:

• A confidence boost for your child,
• A supportive community for you, and
• A powerful way to connect to your cultural roots.

But whether you enroll or not, remember this: Your child’s bilingual success doesn’t depend on a weekend school. It depends on consistent, meaningful exposure and that can come at home, supplemented with a school, with an online class, with family members… There are many ways to make bilingualism happen for you.

If you want to make sure that happens, start small. Use 10 Easy Ways to Add More of Your Home Language to strengthen your daily routines, and read Helping Your Child Build a Positive Bilingual Identity to make sure your child wants to use the language you’re working so hard to pass on.

You’ve got everything you need to raise a bilingual child—whether or not Saturday school is part of your plan.

Are your children in a heritage language school? Let me know about your experience below!