Our Approach

michuchutren Spanish immersion

Our approach.

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embracing bilingualism

BIlingual journey

Research has shown that the bilingual language-learning advantage seems to star quite early, programming the child’s brain even before birth. The age at which children learn a second language can have a significant bearing on the structure of their brain, making bilingualism not only a facilitator of cross-cultural communications but a life skill that positively affects cognitive abilities.

We focus our programs on the early ages as they are the perfect window to learn the language and to gain fluency. There are also the ages in which the person benefits the most as the brain is growing and developing at a fast pace.

Beyond the Books

“Second language acquisition does not require extensive use of conscious grammatical rules and does not require tedious drill.” –Stephen Krashen.

Through a play-based methodology and a research-informed curriculum, we offer a 100% immersion experience at every program where we focus on instilling a passion for the Spanish language and bilingualism. Once the child understands why they are learning another language and how they can benefit for it, they find joy in learning it.

Creative Education

“Creativity is as important now in education as literacy and we should treat it with the same status. You cannot predict the outcome of human development. All you can do is like a farmer create the conditions under which it will begin to flourish” ― Sir Ken Robinson

Bilingualism is not a memory-based skill, it is learned through all senses. We understand children learn in different creative ways so we expose them to the language in a holistic approach.

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Methodology

Joyful Education

Joyful experiences have a long lasting impact in our brains. When the child is enjoying what they are doing, they are learning without even noticing. A joyful enviroment means everyone in the classroom is having fun. Teachers are passionate and interact with children while children are engaged in each activity because they are play-based and interactive.

Play-based

Children have a wonderful imagination, thye are naturally curious and great explorers. Play is their natural method to understand their environment and learn from them. We create our programs for them and based in what they love: playing. With lots of role-playing, imagination and creativity, every activity is designed to feel as a new adventure.

21st century leaders

There are lots of things a child will learn during their life, their early years are the ideal to help them create a good foundation for future learning experiences. We have designed our programs to focus on their executive functions (self control, empathy, goal-direction, cproblem-solving) which are like a traffic control system of their bodies. Strenghtening these skills, the child thrive in any other learning life experience.

Cultured-centered

A language is the soul of a culture. We can not separate one of another, that is why our curriculum is centered in the culture, the geography of the different countries, their customs, fauna, flora.

Cultured-centered

Culture is also about music, instruments and their cultural festivities. We create the opportunities to have real life experiences of these.

Cultured-centered

We use all our senses to understand the diversity and how rich each Hispanic culture is. We read, watch, dance, sing, play, cook and taste the culture.

Family-centered

We understand families are the first and most important teacher for each child and becoming bilingual is a life commitment where family will play a very important role. We center our activities on the importance of family and enjoy watching our local bilingual community grow.

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CURRICULUM

Our curriculum is research-informed and developed with the descriptors for language learners of the ACTFL. For our preschool classes we have also design a specific curriculum that aligns with the Virginia’s foundation blocks for school readiness as well as the Virginia’s department of education Portrait of a Graduate new approach.

Children are not only immersed in a new language but also in a holistic creative education to help them grow as our future Bilingual leaders. Here are some examples of our method: