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Students wearing protective clothing learn fencing in Tessa Afterschool class.

A List of The Best Afterschool Enrichment Activities

The purpose of Afterschool enrichment is to provide extended learning opportunities to students. It encourages learners to take a more in-depth look at concepts by researching further, approaching them from different perspectives, and connecting subjects to meaningful facets of the real world. Enrichment also provides opportunities for students to pursue learning in their own areas of interest and strengths. Whatever the activity may involve, the notion or goal is typically the same – encouraging intrinsic curiosity and lifelong learning.

A native-speaking teacher instructs French afterschool enrichment classes to students.

“What can we do when students already know it? ” Afterschool enrichment programs can give the answer.

Examples of Enrichment Activities

While enrichment activities do not have to adhere to a specific curriculum, they should be purposeful and focused, as these elements are integral to a rewarding learning experience. Below is a list of popular enrichment activities that your child(ren) might love.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

Despite the growing attention given to STEM education, the 2018 National Survey revealed that students in grades K-3 received  an average of only 18 minutes of science instruction per day. STEM-centered enrichment activities, such as academic tutoring, field trips, math contests, and science fairs, support learners’ overall academic growth and develop their thinking and reasoning skills. 

At Tessa International School, in addition to a thorough Math and STEM instruction during school hours, the Science Club and Math Club foster a community among primary school students, engaging them in educational and enjoyable activities that inspire a lasting interest in STEM. 

Tessa students visited local sewerage authority for their STEM enrichment.

Tessa STEM Afterschool Program offers an enriching environment where children can explore the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

Computer Science and Coding

Coding education in K-12 schools significantly increased over the past decade, with 19 states requiring all public primary schools to offer computer science by 2023. Teaching kids to code ensures they become technologically literate and well-prepared for our increasingly digital world. Activities such as LEGO classes and Minecraft Modding at Tessa also catalyze their interest in coding and provide beginners with insights into the field. 

Language Immersion

It is a well-known fact that children pick up languages more easily than adults due to their environmental and cognitive advantages. Teaching your child a second language at a young age can be both fun and easy, with numerous online and in-person resources readily accessible for you to help educate your bilingual learners. 

Tessaprep Language Classes, for example, offer a multi-sensory and highly interactive environment for students to master a new language and gain a deeper understanding of the multicultural world. 

Sports

Participating in youth sports can promote students’ physical wellness and encourage healthy psychosocial development. The keys to ensuring that children enjoy their sports experiences lie in your hands: first, by helping them choose the appropriate sport based on their abilities and interests; and second, by being a good role model for sportsmanship and commitment. 

Theater and Acting

For kids with a flair for dramatics, theater might just be the perfect fit. Acting in plays allows kids to hone in on several soft skills, including memorization, quick thinking, emotional expression, and the confidence to perform on stage. 

There are various entry points to performing arts, ranging from a DIY approach at home to in-person acting classes. At Tessa International School, afterschool activities such as Musical Theater Dance and Readers’ Theater Club provide students a platform to explore creative and artistic expression while enhancing language development and building confidence. Additionally, watching plays at local theaters and community centers also nurtures the talents of these young minds. 

Music

Whether learning a new instrument and joining the Choir or getting involved with digital music production and organizing their own music band, music is always a popular option of enrichment for students to unleash work pressure and realize creative potential they may have. From family concerts to school club performances, the stage for our children is unlimited. 

Afterschool Enrichment Activities at Tessa

At Tessa, a diverse array of Specials classes filled with enriching opportunities is incorporated into our rigorous curriculum, ensuring that students receive a well-rounded education. 

Beyond the school day, our students can participate in a wide spectrum of afterschool enrichment activities, ranging from artistic expression and athletic pursuits to STEM exploration – all thoughtfully designed to cater to students’ interests. A particular highlight is our language classes that are open to all members of the community. Under the guidance of native-speaking teachers with extensive teaching experience, students immerse themselves in new languages and cultures, enriching their global perspective and understanding.

 

Enrichment gives the student more time and space to explore the world and themselves in greater depth, breadth, and complexity. You can find many of these activities online and within your local community, and dedicating time to find the ideal options for your kids can accelerate their learning and improve their self-esteem. Ultimately, our goal during students’ enrichment time at Tessa is to prepare them to confidently step into the wider world, paving the way for a happy and fulfilling life.

 

Are you ready to enroll your child in one of the leading Hoboken private schools

Contact Tessa International School to learn more!

A girl is playing piano in Tessa Afterschool private lesson.

Values of Afterschool Programs

Learning doesn’t end when the school bell rings. Afterschool activities extend the support for students to participate in a safe and productive environment thereafter, alleviating parents’ stress of coordinating schedules. What exactly are the values of afterschool programs for our learners’ development, and how can parents pick the one right aligned with their children’s needs? 

Two students are playing chess in the Afterschool class.

How can we maximize students’ full potentials? Right Afterschool Programs can help you.

Benefits of Afterschool Classes

Afterschool programs are not just about filling the time between school and dinner. A large body of evidence exists confirming that quality afterschool programs help children in various fields. 

  • Academic support: A 2014 report from Afterschool Alliance found that regular participation in high-quality afterschool programs is linked to significant gains in math problem-solving and reading comprehension
  • Social and Emotional Learning: According to a 2010 meta-analysis on 75 reports evaluating 69 different programs, consistent enrichment activities in afterschool learning reduces students’ negative working habits, such as suspension, and increases engagement and attendance rate during normal school days. 
  • Work-Based Learning: Afterschool activities, such as scenario-based simulations and career-oriented clubs, give students insight into potential career paths, help them acquire practical skills, and foster higher educational and career aspirations. 
  • Youth Development: Researchers at the University of Chicago states that learning outside of school strengthens three key factors of success for young adults: agency, integrated identity, and competencies
Two students observe the chemical reaction in Afterschool STEM program.

Tessa International School’s Afterschool activities are designed to spark curiosity and ignite passions.

Qualities of Best Afterschool Programs

With the right afterschool programs, children can thrive both academically and personally. It is important to note that the best type of afterschool program for your child(ren)’s depends on their individual needs. Here are some other necessary qualities for an effective program to meet: 

  1. Safe and healthy facilities with rigorous health protocols. 
  2. A fun and enjoyable environment that fosters social, emotional, and educational development through engaging and developmentally appropriate activities. 
  3. Consistent schedules that provide a clear structure for both parents and children. 
  4. Responsive teachers and staff that are deeply invested in every child’s excellence. 
  5. Efforts toward diversity and inclusion to support positive learning experiences. 
Two students practice fencing in Afterschool class.

Involving your child in the decision-making process also encourages their independent thinking.

Afterschool Program at Tessa

From arts and sports to STEM and language exploration, Tessa International School offers a wide range of Afterschool Activities that suit various interests and talents. 

One important part of our Afterschool Programs differentiating us from other programs is our Language Classes. During the off-school time, we continue and extend the foreign language learning in a wider variety. Native speakers of Arabic, Spanish, French, Hebrew, Russian, and Mandarin provide enriching classes for beginners to advanced students in our community. We strive to provide a multi-sensory and highly interactive environment for students to learn the new language and the multicultural world they live in. 

A student is learning Russian in Tessa Afterschool language class.

Our Afterschool Programs are tailor-made to support growing young minds of a variety of ages and interests.

In addition to supplementing what they have learned in school, Afterschool programs provide valuable resources for students to explore how to manage their time productively. Choosing the right afterschool program can unlock your child’s full potential, setting them on a path to excellence and fulfillment. 

 

Are you ready to explore the only international leading private school in Hoboken?

Contact Tessa International School to learn more!

Turn Summer Learning Loss into Opportunities for Your Kids

Summer is an important time for students to recharge from a demanding school year. However, the long summer months also raise concerns about students losing academic ground during the summer break. This phenomenon, also known as the Summer Learning Loss, has garnered significant attention from educators and parents alike.  What is it exactly, and how can we help children avoid it?

With the right strategies in place, parents can help prevent the summer slide.

Is Summer Learning Loss Real? 

Concerns about Summer Learning Loss date back approximately 100 years. With improved methods and larger samples to examine its reality, multiple recent assessments indicate that test scores flatten or drop during the summer

  1. With data from 3.4 million students in all 50 states from 2016 to 2018, research found that the median summer losses are fairly large in magnitude, ranging from losses of one to two months in reading and a little more than one to three months of school-year learning in math.  
  2. Across primary grades, between 70% and 78% of students experience a decline in math skills over the summer, and between 62% and 73% show regressions in reading.
  3. A longitudinal study by Johns Hopkins University researchers found that more than two-thirds of the reading achievement gap in 9th grade can be traced back to Summer Learning Loss accumulated during the primary school years.

Students’ learning patterns during summer break differ significantly from those during the school year, making it natural for them to learn less or forget some knowledge over the summer. However, it is also clear across recent studies that summer is a variable time for students. Educational experts advocate for additional summer opportunities to reduce the slowdown or stagnation in students’ learning rates. 

 

“Summer learning loss is common and substantial, but not inevitable. ”

Megan Kuhfeld, Senior Research Scientist at Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), 2019

 

What Parents Can Do to Help Students

Summer break is not something to overly worry about. It can become an opportunity for students to learn, catch up, or build certain interests. A 2020 American Educational Research Journal (AERJ) study found summer learning outcomes “vary dramatically from child to child,” based on factors including summer activities and parental involvement. 

There are many activities that parents and families can do to mitigate Summer Learning Loss, spark a love of learning in kids, and ensure an engaging summer vacation: 

Travel as a catalyst to children’s growth and development: 

A summer trip can spark your child’s passion for learning and foster a global perspective like no other. Life on the road is the perfect time to develop children’s social skills and cultural appreciation in a language-immersed environment. 

Engage with educational activities from community resources: 

Libraries, museums, and natural parks are trusted places where children make discoveries, expand their knowledge, and connect their natural curiosity to the real world. Learning experiences in these institutions are self-directed, experiential, and content-rich, promoting executive function skills that shape a child’s success in school and life. 

Use the Internet wisely for home-based education: 

A handful of online platforms, services, and publishers have made their content accessible to keep students learning nowadays. Not only does virtual learning allow flexible scheduling, but also a wider range of courses are offered across the Internet to satisfy different children’s levels and interests.

Summer Camps and Programs Can Help

Structured summer programs can provide a balanced mix of learning and fun, ensuring that children stay intellectually engaged while also enjoying their break. 

One of the biggest differences between Tessa Summer Camp and other camps is that we are a language immersion camp, offering a unique and enriching experience for children. At the camp, students continue their language development throughout the summer. Campers love to learn Spanish, French, or Mandarin!

Hear more from our campers’ parents here

Tessa Summer Camp enables children to have fun while keeping learning in an immersive environment.

 

Rethinking Summer Learning Loss reinforces our goal of preparing lifelong learners. When schools are out, the whole world becomes our child’s classroom. With the ideas above for inspiration, parents can help students focus on the joy of learning during this golden period. These efforts will serve as a critical bridge for students transitioning between school years, ensuring they return to school ready to progress and excel.

 

Are you ready to explore the only international leading private school in Hoboken?

Contact Tessa International School to learn more!

A boy is riding a horse.

Why You Should Send Your Child to Summer Camp

Summer is a season of adventure, exploration, and growth. As the school year winds down, ensuring their children spend their time in an enjoyable and enriching way may become a challenge for many conscientious parents. One option that often stands out is sending children to summer camp. This choice can be very beneficial, offering advantages that extend far beyond the few weeks of summer.

A boy in the water game

At Tessa Summer Camp, students explore a range of fun multi-sensory activities in the target language.

Benefits of Summer Camp

According to the American Camp Association (ACA), the camp experience is recognized by child development professionals as valuable in helping children mature socially, emotionally, intellectually, morally, and physically.

A girl visiting the science center

Summer camps promote children to grow, learn, and thrive in a supportive and stimulating environment.

Gaining education outside a traditional school setting

Summer camp is an exciting opportunity for kids to fill long summer days with engaging activities and outdoor play. Kids learn and socialize in a community that is more flexible and vibrant than the traditional settings of school or home.

Dr. Peter Scales, internationally known as one of the world’s foremost authorities on positive youth development, described camp as “one of the few institutions where young people can experience and satisfy their need for physical activity, creative expression, and true participation in a community environment.” He believed that most schools don’t satisfy all these needs. Hence, camps are designed to maximize students’ summer vacations and improve learning in ways that schools often fall short.

Improving Academic Competence

Summer camps often integrate educational components into their programs, enabling children to learn in a fun and interactive environment. A review on multiple research indicates that students completing summer programs aimed at preventing summer learning loss can be expected to score about 20% higher than students who don’t participate.

Fostering Independence and Confidence

At summer camp, children have the opportunity to make decisions and navigate life away from the comfort of home. This independence fosters self-reliance as they learn to manage tasks and challenges on their own. Overcoming obstacles at camp boosts their confidence and helps them realize their capabilities.

Developing social skills and build friendships

Camp encourages children to interact with peers from diverse backgrounds, fostering a sense of community and friendship. Through collaborative activities and shared experiences, children learn valuable social skills such as communication, cooperation, empathy, and respect. According to a study on young adolescents from six different camps by the ACA, parents reported significant positive changes in their children’s social skills and happiness levels after attending summer camp.

Summer Camp at Tessa

Finding the best summer camp for children can be a real challenge. It is important to look for a camp that will suit your children’s needs and your expectations.

Tessa “Fun, Friends, and Discoveries” Summer Camps offer a perfect balance of academic and fun activities. One of the biggest differences between us and other camps is that we are a language immersion camp, offering a unique and enriching experience for children. Studying a language can be enjoyable and effective; at Tessa Summer Camp, campers love to learn Spanish, French, or Mandarin!

Tessa International School Summer Camp offers these advantages:

  • Excellent native speaking teachers
  • Varied outdoor and indoor activities
  • A new theme and adventure each week
  • Weekly registration and extended hours
  • A bright and inviting space
  • Rigorous safety measures with dedicated staff
  • Flexible cancellation and refund policies

Through exploring a range of multi-sensory and highly interactive activities with their teachers in the target language, our campers have fun while learning a language and being exposed to different cultures. All our teachers are native speakers with experience in bilingual education, able to emphasize the culture of their countries in an authentic fashion with support from a team of dedicated experts.

Learn more about why a language immersion camp can be a better choice for your child(ren) here

 

The benefits of summer camp can last a lifetime. It is an opportunity for children to grow, learn, and thrive in a supportive and stimulating environment. At Tessa Summer Camp, with excellent teachers and diverse activities, we strive to provide the most memorable and rewarding summer experience for our children.

 

Are you ready to explore the only international leading private school in Hoboken? 

Contact Tessa International School to learn more! 

We offer bilingual education.

Bilingualism at Tessa International School

As communities worldwide become more interconnected, bilingualism has emerged as a crucial asset, enriching individuals’ lives in myriad ways. Bilingual instruction is also unparalleled compared to other learning strategies and has proven tremendously beneficial to students. 

At Tessa, bilingualism is one of the three core pillars of our school philosophy that craft our educational approaches. We challenge our students in English, French, Mandarin, or Spanish, empowering them to reach their full potential. 

Benefits of Bilingualism

Beyond facilitating cross-cultural communication, early exposure to bilingual education also offers a wealth of cognitive and academic advantages. 

  • Bilingualism improves executive functioning and builds cognitive connections in the brain – the parts responsible for multitasking, memorizing, focusing, and planning. Findings show that bilingual children are on average 6.5% more efficient in their thinking skills than monolingual children. 
  • Researchers at American University show that by the end of middle school, students in dual-language programs were performing one grade level higher on reading assessments than their peers who were not enrolled in these programs. 
  • In a large-scale study of Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Grade 1 students, bilingual students outperformed monolingual students in mathematical reasoning and problem solving.

Learn more about advantages to have a bilingual brain through the video below:

Our Immersion Progression Model

Bilingualism is integral to every stage of the education experience at Tessa. To ensure that our students develop strong language skills in both English and the target language, the Immersion Progression Model is strategically designed and applied. For an overview, our 80:20 immersion (Preschool) and 50:50 dual-language (Primary School) teaching approach is designed to promote students to become fully bilingual and biliterate. 

80:20 Immersion Stage: From Nursery through Kindergarten, the majority of instruction (80%) is conducted in the target language, allowing students to build strong, life-long foundations in the language.

“Bilingualism is an experience that shapes our brain for a lifetime.”

– Dr. Gigi Luk, the associate professor at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education

50:50 Dual Language Stage: Starting in Grade 1, students will receive instruction and absorb knowledge in English and the targeted language equally in order to gain proficiency in both. 

To meet this ideal, different language teachers – all of whom are native speakers of the language they teach – regularly collaborate to exchange their classroom observations and enhance the learning experience. Our teachers not only teach the language but also teach content through the target language, which enables students to gain linguistic competence while making academic progress in core subjects, including Science, Social Studies, Language & Literacy, and Math.

 

Check out this short video of our students talking about bilingualism: 

 

The power of bilingualism is undeniable, conferring a multitude of advantages that improve individuals’ lives and enhance society as a whole. By embracing bilingualism, our students are prepared to navigate the complexities of the globalizing world with confidence and proficiency.

 

Are you ready to explore the only international leading private school in Hoboken? 

Contact Tessa International School to learn more! 

A boy is reading a book.

How Bilingual Children Learn to Read

It is a common misconception that bilingual students might lag behind their monolingual peers in reading proficiency. In fact, decades of research have proved that bilingual students may become advanced readers and show advantages over their peers in a single-language learning environment. With encouragement and practice, bilingual children are able to achieve full biliteracy! 

How Bilingualism Puts Readers at An Advantage

A bilingual student is reading.

Bilingual education enables students to develop key components of successful reading.

Metalinguistic Awareness Development

Research has shown that bilingual children possess more elaborate reading strategies than monolingual children, presumably due to higher metalinguistic skills. 

Metalinguistic awareness refers to the ability to reflect upon and manipulate the structure of language. It is a set of skills that are related to multiple linguistic elements, including phonological, morphological, syntactic, and lexical awareness. To some extent, bilingual children can transfer these skills involved in learning one language to another, consequently accelerating their language learning.

Literacy Acquisition

As bilingual children develop their metalinguistic skills and language proficiency, they can gain further advantages in literacy acquisition. Exposure to multiple languages from a young age enables them to better understand the word structure and build a broader vocabulary range. These foundational capabilities could explain the finding that bilinguals tend to spell more complex vocabulary words in later grades.

Students in dual-language immersion programs perform as well as, or better than, their peers in core academic content areas by late elementary school. […] By the end of middle school, students in dual-language programs were performing one grade level higher on reading assessments than their peers who were not enrolled in these programs.”

Researchers from American University, 2016

Cognitive Development

Bilingualism fosters cognitive development, providing students with a robust cognitive reserve. Bilingual individuals typically exhibit stronger working memories and attention spans, contributing to academic and behavioral enhancements. Moreover, their ability to switch between languages cultivates flexible thinking and problem-solving skills. By navigating between different linguistic systems, bilingual students become adept at critically evaluating and resolving complex tasks.

How to Help Bilingual Students Gain Reading Fluency

Our teacher helps students in literacy acquisition.

With sufficient support, students can boost their reading abilities in both languages.

Even though bilingual education can provide students with many unique strengths, without proper instruction, their literacy in one language may become stunted. Here is a list of possible methods that adults can use to promote their students’ reading skills:

  • Recognize differences between the languages that may confuse emergent bilingual students. For example, extra support may be necessary for English-speaking students learning the Chinese writing system. 
  • Select strategically between the simultaneous and sequential dual-language programs for students. For instance, the Immersion Progression Model at Tessa International School facilitates a smooth transition from full immersion to balanced bilingual education, ensuring optimal language development.
  • Assign reading tasks in both languages to reinforce literacy skills across all languages in a student’s repertoire.
  • Encourage students to read aloud to each other, providing opportunities for collaboration and confidence-building.
  • Engage families in students’ bilingual language development by providing take-home library books and other resources to strengthen language skills outside the classroom. 

 

Fostering positive attitudes toward bilingualism, biliteracy, and biculturalism is essential for creating optimal learning environments. While the journey may differ from traditional monolingual learning, bilingual education offers unique advantages that empower bilingual children to excel in reading and language skills for a lifetime.

 

Are you ready to explore the only international leading private school in Hoboken? 

Contact Tessa International School to learn more!

Why Early Bilingual Education Boosts Brain Function and Development

Why Early Bilingual Education Boosts Brain Function and Development

There has been an immense amount of discussion and research done on bilingualism in recent years. As scholars and educators dive deeper into the effects of studying multiple languages, more and more evidence is found to support international language learning.

Over the past two decades, researchers have focused specifically on the cognitive benefits gained by children who are introduced to bilingualism at an early age. Specifically, they have measured the ways in which children learn and react to various aspects of their education and found astounding results for multilingual children.

According to NPR.org, these results show benefits so great, they will be utilized and carried throughout your child’s entire life. It is a lifetime of learning in a way that is unparalleled to any other learning approach available.

Bilingual Education Benefits

While the benefits of bilingual education are exponential, there are several benefits that are so great, they should be considered priority in terms of learning. Among these benefits are invaluable skill mastery of things like problem solving, concentration and focus on any given task, and the ability to think critically and choose words with purpose and meaning.

“Researchers found that young adults proficient in two languages performed better on attention tests and had better concentration than those who spoke only one language,” according to LiveScience.com.

Problem Solving Skills

For starters, children who are introduced to a second language, are essentially challenging their brains to sort out multiple information and channel appropriate times to use each piece. By doing this, it is similar to solving riddles or puzzles – it forces the brain to consider information as a whole (call it “big picture thinking”) and sort out conflicting data. In terms of language learning, the child must sort out each language and decipher which language is appropriate to use at different times.

“Bilingual people often perform better on tasks that require conflict management… (because they possess) the ability to ignore competing perceptual information and focus on the relevant aspects,” explains the US National Library of Medicine.

Mastering Focus

Another benefit of bilingual education is the inadvertent mastery of focus and concentration. Since bilingual children must constantly think before speaking in order to ensure they choose the correct language to adequately communicate, they are naturally training their minds to reach mastery levels of focus and control.

“Because both of a bilingual person’s language systems are always active and competing, that person uses these control mechanisms every time she or he speaks or listens. This constant practice strengthens the control mechanisms and changes the associated brain regions,” the National Library of Medicine explains.

Critical Thinking

This level of concentration and focus that children with bilingual education will master, is what leads to an impressive critical thinking development. Essentially, by training their minds to pause before speaking and focus on what they wish to say, bilingual students learn the basis for a lifetime of critical thinking skills.

“Bilingual children as young as age 3 have demonstrated a head start on tests of perspective-taking and theory of mind – both of which are fundamental social and emotional skills,” reports NPR.org.

Overall, children who participate in bilingual education programs are proving to be more adept at communication in general, as well as having a greater cognitive ability and focus than their monolingual counterparts. Research continues to pour in on the benefits of bilingualism in early childhood education, but the results already reported have shown exponential plusses to international language learning.

 

Learn more about a bilingual education at Tessa International School here.

Language Spotlight Series: French - Boosting Your Child's Future Opportunities

Language Spotlight Series: French – Boosting Your Child’s Future Opportunities

For the final segment of our Language Spotlight Series, we are taking a look at the benefits of choosing French as a bilingual study program for early education. While we’ve thoroughly covered the immense benefits of bilingual learning in previous sections of the series, for this portion we will be focused solely on the advantages of introducing your little one to French.

If you’re considering enrolling your child into French lessons, you’re not alone. With over 220 million French-speaking individuals across the globe (according to diplomatic policy resources), it’s quite evident that French is much more than just a beautiful romance language.

Spotlight on French

Diplomatie.gouv.fr states France is “the world’s fifth biggest economy and a leading destination for foreign investment.” As such, learning the language of such an economic powerhouse is certainly a valuable skill to acquire – but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here is a look at five of the most important benefits to adding French to your child’s educational curriculum:

1 – French Economic Investment

As mentioned previously, France is a major player in world economic development and investment as well as endless other areas. You may think of France as a place for delicious food and romance, (and you’d be right, for sure), but it’s much more than that. The companies and interests rooted in French industry are major players in the world economic picture, so it goes without saying that learning the language is a huge plus for future economic opportunities.

2 – Rich Cultural Experience

If you’re looking for your child to gain more than simply a linguistic advantage, few languages open more cultural doors than French. French culture is deeply rooted in the arts, cooking, and theater – all of which offer immensely enriching experiences for those who open themselves to it.

“French is the international language of cooking, fashion, theater, the visual arts, dance and architecture. A knowledge of French offers access to great works of literature in the original French, as well as films and songs.” – Diplomatie.gouv.fr.

3 – It Opens Doors Linguistically

Another major benefit of studying French is the linguistic similarities it shares with other languages. While it’s certainly not an exact translation, there are many benefits to picking up the similarities between English and French. In other words, learning how the two languages have developed and share certain key components helps to understand other languages even more. In short, by picking up French, it helps students learn even more languages later in life with ease due to the ability to recognize those base components and transfer them to other cultures.

“The knowledge you gain about your own language equips you with a plethora of tools you can use to learn further languages, and if you choose to learn another romance language – Portuguese, Spanish or Italian, for example – then you’ll recognize a host of grammatical and lexical similarities.” – Babbel.com.

4 – International Connections

The United Nations recognizes French as both a “working language and an official language” (diplomatie.gouv.fr). As such, its presence can be found worldwide in organizations such as the Red Cross, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), global embassies, and even the Olympic committee. What does this mean for your child? Well, it means it’s opening up a world of fascinating opportunities in practically every avenue of adult life.

5 – The World’s Top Travel Destination

It’s hard to consider French language and culture without considering the immense travel and tourism attached to it. According to French statistics, “France is the world’s top tourist destination and attracts more than 87 million visitors a year” (diplomatie.gouv.fr).

By introducing French to your child, you’re opening doors to not only economic and career opportunities, but opportunities for travel, higher education, and culture as well. Speak with educators to discover even more benefits to adding French to your child’s curriculum!

Language Spotlight Series: Spanish - Giving Your Child a Career Advantage

Language Spotlight Series: Spanish – Giving Your Child a Career Advantage

More and more evidence has come to light in recent years in support of adding a second (or third) language to your child’s curriculum. While many parents may be apprehensive about introducing additional language learning to their child at a young age, research has shown early education is a fantastic time to begin bilingual teaching.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, studies have shown that the most important learning process of early education involves language and literacy development. These two skills, which are intertwined, form the basic foundation for all other learning processes your child will encounter the rest of their lives.

“The primary goal of early schooling is to establish the foundational skills upon which children will build their educational futures. The most important of these abilities are the language and literacy competence.” – The U.S. National Library of Medicine.

It goes without saying then, that a focus on language learning is the key to the best academic potential for children. In fact, adding dual language learning to their academia during early education years, serves to boost their comprehension skills even further, according to recent research by the National Institute of Health (NIH).

As the NIH reports, the Lindholm-Leary study, conducted in 2014, showed “…children in the bilingual program outperform(ed) the English-only instruction group in both English and Spanish test scores by the end of second grade.”

The research results leave us with compelling evidence in support of introducing bilingual learning at a young age. Which in turn, begs the question, “how do we choose which language is best?” Our Language Spotlight Series is going to take a look at two of the top ranked languages chosen for children around the world: Spanish and French. This month we will be focusing our articles on discovering the benefits of each language option, beginning with Spanish.

Spotlight on Spanish

According to international census results, conducted by Swedish educational group, Nationalencyklopedin.com, in 2010 there were 405 million Spanish speakers throughout the world. These census results showed there are nearly 50 million more people globally who speak Spanish than there are who speak English – and that was 9 years ago. The numbers are only increasing with each year.

What does this mean? Well, to put it simply, there are more opportunities for your child if they speak Spanish than there are if they speak English. Imagine the possibilities if they were bilingual and able to speak both.

“In the United States alone there are over 50 million people who speak Spanish as their native or second language. So even if you don’t fancy yourself a globetrotter, Spanish is probably the most useful language to learn…” – Babbel.com.

If you base your decision on numbers, Spanish is a likely front-runner for bilingual education options for your child, but it’s so much more than just a popular choice. Here are five of the top benefits to consider when choosing Spanish as a second language for your child’s early educational curriculum:

1 – Opportunities

When you choose a language that is the second most spoken language across the globe, you’re choosing so much more than just a language voted most likely to succeed or most popular in the annual polls. You’re choosing opportunities for your child.

With so many people speaking Spanish – both in the United States and around the world – learning the more common language seems a no-brainer. By learning to communicate with a larger base of the global population, you will be giving your child the tools to close gaps between cultures and open up lines of communication with endless individuals and multi-lingual opportunities.

“Spanish is the second most-spoken language in the world. The opportunities for Spanish speakers across the globe are endless!” – Leapfrog.com.

2 – Stronger Linguistic Core

Perhaps one of the greatest advantages to consider when signing your child up for Spanish language instruction, lies in the foundational work. While you may be afraid your child will be confused by using multiple languages in the early years, the contrary is actually true – particularly when learning Spanish.

English and Spanish share many commonalities in their core linguistics. In fact, both have strong Latin roots and have multiple words that are so similar they are basically the same (or literally, are the same) – and easily understood.

“Studying Spanish increases children’s understanding of the English language and how different languages evolve, which can also help with learning English vocabulary.” – Leapfrog.com.

Going back to the study findings listed above from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, language and linguistic learning is the most critical piece of your child’s early education. By extension then, choosing a course of study that helps boost your child’s ability to understand and develop these foundational linguistic skills makes perfect sense.

3 – Ease of Understanding

In a related benefit, since Spanish and English share so many commonalities, it also makes it a fairly simple language for young minds to pick up. There are literally thousands of words in the Spanish language that share a base with English words. Actually, there are several thousand that share an exact same spelling and meaning in both languages.

Words like capital, editorial, federal, hospital, manual, normal, and thousands more share the same meaning and spelling, just to give an example. English and Spanish are highly relatable and easily understood, so it goes without saying that the earlier you begin bilingual studies, the easier it is to pick up. With so many similarities, children will be able to pick up Spanish as a second language in no time.

4 – Breaking Barriers

Because learning a second language is more than just opening opportunities, it’s important to consider the bilateral advantages. While your child will certainly be picking up fantastic core linguistic lessons and opening doors to communicating with a larger portion of the global population, there is more to the picture.

According to Babbel Magazine, there are actually more Spanish speaking individuals in the United States than there are in Spain. The Spanish-speaking population in the United States is second in size only to that of Mexico – giving an even greater opportunity for immersion learning.

With a language as vastly used as Spanish, becoming fluent does more than just open communication lines – it breaks down communication barriers. When the language barriers are taken down, cultural learning and enrichment are open and available for even greater impacts on our children.

“Dual language programs show students a broader world-view, whatever the native language of the student, and lead to greater opportunities for collaborative learning.” – Huffington Post.

5 – Increased Fluency

When you consider all of the factors above, it makes sense to deduce that Spanish as a second language comes with an increased chance for fluency later in life when introduced at an early age. Combining the fact that the two languages share so many similarities, with the fact that they increase linguistic foundations overall, it’s easy to understand how your child will be building a strong potential for continuing their learning later in life.

“It generally takes five to seven years to be proficient in a second language… In other words, U.S. students should be introduced to a second language at a young age in order to be fluent by adulthood.” – Huffington Post.

Overall, when choosing a second language for early childhood education, a vast majority of parents have chosen Spanish for a multitude of reasons. With the increasing Spanish-speaking population and wide-spread use of Spanish across the globe, it’s certainly the most popular choice. It also shares a root in Latin-based linguistics, giving it so many similarities to English and making it an easy-learn for young minds.

Whatever your reason, introducing Spanish to early education students has unparalleled benefits across the board. Speak with bilingual educational professionals near you to learn even more advantages to Spanish instruction!

Language Spotlight Series: The Importance of Bilingualism in Early Childhood Education

Language Spotlight Series: The Importance of Bilingualism in Early Childhood Education

Language Spotlight Series: The Importance of Bilingualism in Early Childhood Education

The Importance of Bilingualism in Early Education

Parents often seek advice from pediatricians and early education professionals on what their children should be learning. By now, it’s common knowledge that reading to young ones and having frequent conversations with them are fundamental tools. These key components teach children the basics for language and communication foundations that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. We know this, right?

Why Bilingual Education Matters

If communication and language development is such a critical part of a learning foundation, then many have considered expanding that learning base by adding additional languages. The importance of bilingualism – the act of learning two or more languages simultaneously – has grown in popularity across the globe in recent decades because of this theory.

Considering that 21% of young children are already immersed in a second language at home (Hanen.org), it’s easy to understand why multiple languages are being introduced earlier and earlier in schools. In addition, a growing number of the general population speak a language other than English, so learning to be bilingual is becoming more of the “norm” today than ever before.

Beyond the Myths: The True Impact of Bilingualism

While some have been hesitant to add a second language to their young child’s educational repertoire, others are discovering how highly beneficial it can be. According to the U.S. Department of Education, “Learning more than one language is an asset to individuals, families, and our entire society.” In fact, many researchers encourage parents to consider adding a bilingual approach to their child’s education for numerous reasons.

When it comes to considering a second language, one misconception is that it may confuse a growing child during the early education stage. It’s easy to understand the basis for these concerns, but researchers have now been able to prove they’re not only incorrect, but the exact opposite is true: bilingual children learn better and faster than other children.(The Hanen Centre)

“Bilingual children are better able to focus their attention on relevant information and ignore distractions” – Hanen.org.

The U.S. Department of Education notes several key benefits to teaching children multiple languages during early childhood. They broke them down into four basic categories: Cognitive Development, Social-Emotional Development, Learning, and Long-Term Success – all of which contain major benefits for bilingual children.

Cognitive Development and Bilingualism

Perhaps the greatest (and most immediate) benefit parents can witness in children learning a second language involves cognitive development. The Department of Education states children who begin learning second languages before the age of six will “have an easier time understanding math concepts and solving word problems; developing strong thinking skills; using logic; focusing, remembering, and making decisions; thinking about language; and learning other languages.”

Bilingualism and Social-Emotional Development

Broadening language experience during school hours enriches family and community ties. By bridging the communication gap between languages, bilingual children are able to understand and connect with more individuals, building even stronger friendships within their schools and communities. This crucial skill plays out with overall improved communication experiences with others and again, allows them to build better relationships than students who learn a single language.

Bilingualism’s Impact on Learning

Introducing a second language early on improves children’s learning abilities for everything else to come. It helps children learn how to intake only the important facts while weeding out irrelevant information.

Bilingualism and Long-Term Success

According to statistics, 50-65% of all adults across the globe now speak a language other than English. By those statistics alone, those who speak only English are already in the minority.

What does this mean for your child? Being in the language-minority will limit the opportunities available to your child as they reach adulthood.

Overall, more and more researchers are proving that introducing additional languages at an early age has an immensely positive impact on children. In addition to an increase in their ability to focus, higher cognitive function, and improved social and cultural relations, bilingualism has also been linked to several other benefits. Some of which include staving off degenerative cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia, and a higher annual salary bracket as a result of superior career qualifications.

“Recent brain studies have shown that bilingual people’s brains function better and for longer after developing (Alzheimer’s)… On average, the disease is delayed by four years compared to monolinguals” – Michigan State University News.

This cognitive advantage (as well as the rest of them mentioned above) all boil down to the flexibility and focus that is generated when individuals are immersed in the bilingual world. When bilingual learning begins during the early education years, it has the added benefit of improving their learning potential in multifaceted ways. While adults will still see many of these benefits if picking up a second language later in life, research has shown children stand to benefit the most by becoming bilingual.

If you’re interested in incorporating bilingual learning into your child’s early educational experience, check out these Different Types of Preschool Bilingual Learning for more information.

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Tessa International School

Office: (201) 755-5585 | Location: 720 Monroe St. Hoboken, NJ 07030