Each day of our lives, we make deposits in the memory banks of our children!

Language Program at Village Preschool

Research shows that the most effective way for students to acquire a second language is to integrate instruction into the standard curriculum that students are already learning.

What’s more, exposure to other languages encourages positive attitudes towards those cultures, and helps children experience the world in new ways.

This is why our language semi-immersion program is a natural component of Village Preschool’s curriculum. Spanish/English and  French/English programs are offered.    We also offer Mandarin/English as an Enrichment Program.

Our dynamic classes, taught by teachers fluent in the featured language, incorporate music, dance, games, and storytelling to keep children engaged. When teachers use language immersion children learn to associate new vocabulary directly to the concept being taught.

Who are the Teachers for our Semi-Immersion Program?

We recruit Spanish and French speaking teachers from countries around the world (our teachers come from Canada, France, Colombia, Spain, and Lebanon). Our international teachers are qualified and certified.

Our teachers encourage our children to practice listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in Spanish and French.

Music, movement, song, art, games and storybooks continue to engage the students and create relevance in the vocabulary.

The Sym-Talk method enhances the curriculum and encourages sentence building activities through the manipulation of the various parts of speech.

Practice sheets and vocabulary lists remain in the students’ backpack for Parents to practice with Children at home.

Cultural activities promote an appreciation of the diverse cultures of the Spanish speaking world.

Language Program at Village Preschool

Spanish Program

Spanish is our most requested language, offered at Village Preschool.   Parents frequently tell us they feel that Spanish offers practical and cultural relevance for their children.

Our Children learn vocabulary in context of themes, such as exploring the city. In that unit, children learn about the modes of transportation like el carro, el avión, el barco, and el tren. Then teachers add more details, like a fast car or blue train. Games and songs help to reinforce the lesson, such as playing charades where children act out the words.

French Program

By consistently incorporating French into our Students; daily lives we set the stage for the acquisition of advanced language proficiency.  Our youngest children  learn new vocabulary by using a prop, like colored scarves or puppets, to introduce new words. A teacher may wave different colored scarves high or low while repeating the name of the color—vert, bleu, or rouge. As children engage in play, teachers can introduce additional words like up or down to reflect their movement.

Language Program at Village Preschool

Our research-based approach to language includes:

Total Physical Response (TPR)
Our classrooms celebrate not only when a child speaks in a new word, but when a child responds non-verbally in a manner that shows comprehension. For example, when asked “Where is the tiger?” in the second language, a child who points to the tiger is showing comprehension of the question that was asked.

The Rassias Method
The energetic delivery that our teachers employ is vital in helping students make the connections between words and concepts. Dramatic communication—full of emotion and feeling—is the surest way to ensure that children retain what they learn.

The Multiple Intelligences Theory
Children learn in a variety of ways, including through music, words, touch, images, and movement. Our lessons target different skills and interests so whether a child thrives with a musical, linguistic, mathematical, or kinesthetic way of learning, our teachers have a way to engage them.