Our Approach
Language Wonderland™ classes will help your child learn second language, explore other cultures and make new friends. At the core of each class are activities that students complete in order to experience new vocabulary and grammar through movement, conversation, art and cultural lessons. We start with activities and games that are simple and fun. Later on, as students are able to grasp more complex concepts in the target language, they will better learn and master the essence of the language as well as its culture through more challenging and problem-solving activities.
Why learn a second language?
The benefits of learning a foreign language are numerous! As it has been noted by several longitudinal studies, in addition to developing a lifelong ability to communicate with people from other countries and backgrounds, other benefits include improved overall school performance and superior problem-solving skills.*
Knowledge of a second language also seems to coincide with high academic achievement. A study by Horn and Kojaku (2001) shows that students who were in “rigorous” programs in high school, which included 3 years of foreign language study, were likely to earn better grades in college and less likely to drop out.
Learning another language can enhance knowledge of English structure and vocabulary.** Students of foreign languages may have better career opportunities***. In a survey of 581 alumni of The American Graduate School of International Management in Glendale, AZ, most respondents said they had gained a competitive advantage from their knowledge of foreign languages and other cultures. They said that not only was language study often a critical factor in hiring decisions and in enhancing their career paths, it also provided personal fulfillment, mental discipline, and cultural enlightenment ****.
In addition to gaining personal competitive edge, bilingual speakers are also beneficial for society overall. Americans fluent in other languages improve global communication, enhance our economic competitiveness abroad, and maintain our political and security interests. In recent years, the U.S. government has expressed a need for fluent speakers of languages other than English, particularly in less commonly taught languages such as Arabic and Chinese .
(adapted from Center of Applied Linguistics)
Knowledge of a second language also seems to coincide with high academic achievement. A study by Horn and Kojaku (2001) shows that students who were in “rigorous” programs in high school, which included 3 years of foreign language study, were likely to earn better grades in college and less likely to drop out.
Learning another language can enhance knowledge of English structure and vocabulary.** Students of foreign languages may have better career opportunities***. In a survey of 581 alumni of The American Graduate School of International Management in Glendale, AZ, most respondents said they had gained a competitive advantage from their knowledge of foreign languages and other cultures. They said that not only was language study often a critical factor in hiring decisions and in enhancing their career paths, it also provided personal fulfillment, mental discipline, and cultural enlightenment ****.
In addition to gaining personal competitive edge, bilingual speakers are also beneficial for society overall. Americans fluent in other languages improve global communication, enhance our economic competitiveness abroad, and maintain our political and security interests. In recent years, the U.S. government has expressed a need for fluent speakers of languages other than English, particularly in less commonly taught languages such as Arabic and Chinese .
(adapted from Center of Applied Linguistics)
When to Start?
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Is younger really better? The answer is YES!
Based on research of early language learning Language Wonderland™ has developed age appropriate curricula for each level. Children in our program start by working with basic vocabulary and pronunciation, and use those basic building blocks as they progress through sessions to improve and advance their knowledge and understanding of the new language. According to Center for Applied Linguistics in Washington D.C. “Learning a language at any age is beneficial.” Some studies have shown that the human brain is more open to linguistic development during the years between birth and pre-adolescence and that children who learn a language before the onset of adolescence are more likely to develop native-like pronunciation *. When children have an early start to a long sequence of language instruction that continues through high school and college, they will be able to achieve levels of fluency that have not been possible in the past due to the late start of most language programs. |
*(e.g., Bamford & Mizokawa, 1991; see discussion in Hakuta, 1986).
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Our Stars!
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