There is no doubt about it: learning another language is a huge plus for anyone, but especially so for our children, who are growing up in an increasingly connected global economy. But aside from being more worldly and having better opportunities and job prospects down the road, there are everyday benefits to knowing another language. As the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages notes, many studies have demonstrated that second-language learning can benefit the student’s linguistic ability and cognitive and creative abilities as well.
And it is universally agreed that the best years to learn another language are the primary years — the sooner the better, in fact. As someone who was raised bilingual (English-Spanish) with bilingual/bicultural parents, with formal bilingual education, I know first-hand how lucky I was. Knowing two languages has made me a better thinker and has enabled me to learn other languages more easily. As I try to likewise raise my son bilingual, though, I know how tough it can be — for example, he has more limited resources than I had (since there are not so many native speakers around). Still, he’s learning Spanish, it’s been wonderful, and we are proud to have given him this opportunity.
Parents who want to do the same for their kids should check out Hola Kids LLC, which offers year-round classes and summer camps. The language program was created for kids who show an interest in learning another language, specifically Spanish. Hola Kids focuses on learning at a young age to take advantage of children’s natural linguistic development and innate curiosity of the world around them. The Hola Kids Spanish Immersion Program has different groups for kids ages 1 to 10.
If learning another language brings back high-school memories of tedious memorization or long vocabulary lists, have no fear — this is not your language class from decades past. These classes for kids are engaging and interactive: The curriculum develops children’s language skills using a range of engaging research-based activities and offers a fun and easy learning experience filled with language games, crafts, dance and movement activities, singing and more. The kids interact with native-speaking teachers and peers that help them to develop their language skills. Kids have fun in classes that last 50-90 minutes. Hola Kids offers Spanish Summer Camps and Eight week Summer Program. Make this verano (summer) one that opens up doors for your kids!
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