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Two preschoolers delightfully hold balloons and sugar paintings to celebrate the Lunar New Year at Tessa International School in Hoboken, NJ.

5 Places to Celebrate Lunar New Year Around Hoboken

Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is the most important holiday in China (also known as the Spring Festival, 春节Chūn jié) and widely celebrated across Asia and in overseas Chinese communities. It is a time for family and community reunions, feasting, parades, and fireworks, symbolizing renewal and prosperity.

In 2025, January 29th marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake. A common motif in myths and tales, the snake symbolizes transformation and personal growth in Chinese culture. As Hoboken and the surrounding NYC area come alive with festivities, here are five incredible places to immerse yourself and your family in the traditions and joy of the Lunar New Year. 

A Mandarin students happily shows her red envelope for the Lunar New Year.

As a Mandarin immersion school, Lunar New Year is one of our largest annual celebrations at Tessa International School.

27th Lunar New Year Firecracker Ceremony & Cultural Festival in Chinatown

Kick off the Lunar New Year on January 29 with a bang—literally—at Chinatown’s Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival in Manhattan Chinatown! 

Organized by Better Chinatown USA, this festival begins with a traditional firecracker display to ward off evil spirits and welcome the New Year in Sara D. Roosevelt Park. Attendees can enjoy a variety of cultural performances, including lion and dragon dances. From 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, festival booths will offer traditional foods, souvenirs, and exhibits. This family-friendly festival is a sensory delight that captures the true essence of the celebration! 

The Sound of SpringChinese New Year Concert with The Orchestra Now in NYC

Music lovers, here’s the perfect event for you to honor the Lunar New Year while appreciating the musical heritage of China! 

Now in its sixth year, The Sound of Spring is an authentic Chinese New Year concert featuring dramatic orchestral works and world-class Chinese instrument soloists. Concerts will take place on January 25 at 3 PM in The Fisher Center at Bard College and on January 26 at 3 PM in the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. Exposure to the diversity and artistry of Chinese music is a wonderful way to spark your children’s interest in the richness of cultural heritage and the beauty of another language

In addition to opportunities to explore China’s rich musical traditions, the event also offers pre-concert celebrations at 2 PM for you to embrace the Chinese New Year’s spirit. Come early and bring your kid for Chinese treats and instrument demonstrations!

Lunar New Year Celebration & Open House at Tessa International School

Celebrate Lunar New Year with Tessa International School in Hoboken on February 1 at 9:30 AM!

This open-to-all event invites families to immerse themselves in the culture and festivities of the Year of the Snake. Through a variety of activities such as sugar painting (Tanghua), Couplets (Chunlian) DIY, and a Mandarin book sale, you will enjoy a vibrant morning of cultural exploration and community connection! 

As an international school offering a Mandarin immersion program for students aged 2-10, Tessa International School incorporates culturally responsive teaching practices into our bilingual education. Our programs aim to foster a deep appreciation for global traditions and values, equipping students with both linguistic and cultural skills they need to thrive in an interconnected world. At 10:30 AM, a special presentation by our administration team will help you learn about Tessa’s programs and school mission

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore, connect, and celebrate! You can sign up here

Sanxingdui Encounter Exhibition at Memor Museum in NYC

Perfect for history enthusiasts and families—step into the world of ancient Chinese culture with the Sanxingdui Encounter Exhibition before January 19! 

History meets technology at this immersive exhibition showcasing ancient Chinese culture. Featuring a one-to-one replica of Sanxingdui artifacts and cutting-edge VR and AI interactive activities, this experience brings a 3,000-year-old civilization to life in an innovative fashion. Blending education with cultural celebration, this event will add a meaningful dimension to your holiday experience. 

 

Tessa primary mandarin students immersed themselves in visiting the ancient Chinese exhibition.

During their field trip, students in Mandarin Track at Tessa observed the cultural relics up close.

Lunar New Year Celebration Series at American Dream in NJ

Still on the hunt for the New Year’s essentials? The Lunar New Year Series at American Dream offers a mix of entertainment, shopping, and cultural activities! 

Interactive shows, holiday-themed markets, and a variety of all-age entertainment—there’s something for everyone to enjoy from January 24 to February 9. This lively series captures the festive essence of the Lunar New Year, making it an exciting destination for a day of fun with the whole family. 

FAQs

What is the Lunar New Year? 

The Lunar New Year, celebrated widely across Asia, marks the start of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is a time to reunite with family and friends, honor ancestors, and welcome prosperity, health, and happiness.

When is the Lunar New Year celebrated?

The date often falls between late January and early February, varying each year as it is based on the lunisolar calendar. In 2025, Lunar New Year begins on January 29, ushering in the Year of the Snake.

Why is it important to learn about the Lunar New Year? 

Lunar New Year is the most important holiday in many Asian countries, celebrated by billions of people each year. This significant cultural celebration offers a valuable window into diverse cultures and promotes understanding of different customs around the world.

In addition, activities celebrating the Lunar New Year provide language- and value-immersive opportunities for learners to apply both their linguistic and knowledge skills in real-life situations. As an international school offering a Mandarin immersion program, we believe that encouraging bilingual learners to actively participate in relevant socio-cultural events helps them sustain a lifelong passion for language learning and develop an open-minded attitude. 

Learn more about why you should choose Chinese immersion for your children here

 

Are you ready to discover Hoboken’s leading international private school?

Contact Tessa International School to learn more! 

 

Our Spanish Nursery teacher guides toddlers in language learning.

Raising a Bilingual Toddler: FAQs and Expert Tips for Success

Can young children handle exposure to two languages? Absolutely! Research shows that bilingual infants – as young as 20 months – are capable of processing two languages efficiently. Bilingual acquisition is a natural and rewarding journey for our toddlers that not only enriches communication but also brings unique cognitive and developmental advantages. Below, we have addressed common concerns parents have about raising bilingual toddlers, backed by research and expert insights.

Commonly Asked Questions

1. Is it too early to start teaching my 2-year-old a second language?

No, starting early is highly advantageous. Early language acquisition is strongly supported by the way children’s brains develop. Toddlers naturally absorb languages without consciously realizing it. A study shows that even babies as young as 4 months can differentiate between language inputs, emphasizing the potential in cognitive development from dual language exposure. 

According to the U.S. Department of Education, children who begin learning second languages before the age of six will have an easier time:

For more insights, watch the last webinar by Kathleen Visconti, our Head of School, on the benefits of bilingualism. You can download the recording of the session here.

2. Will learning two languages confuse my child?

No. Research for decades has debunked this common misconception. In fact, children who have regular and rich exposure to both languages achieve the same milestones in language development at roughly the same pace as monolingual children. Additionally, evidence proves that bilingualism enhances children’s cognitive abilities, such as understanding others’ perspectives and improving problem-solving skills

 

Two French Track toddlers actively engage in bilingual learning.

Early exposure to another language ignites children’s learning.

3. How do I balance exposure to two languages?

The “One Parent, One Language” (OPOL) strategy offers a great way to ensure balanced exposure, where each parent consistently speaks only one language to the child. While popular, OPOL can be demanding to maintain. 

Alternatively, to ensure later bilingualism, many experts recommend providing more early input in a minority language and promoting children’s interaction with peers who speak the same language. In this light, a high-quality nursery school program is greatly beneficial, forming a supportive language-immersed environment. 

This is what Tessa International School’s Immersion Model is about. In our nursery program, toddlers start learning French, Spanish, or Mandarin with 80% of the communication and learning activities in the target language. The 80:20 immersion stage builds a strong foundation for bilingual fluency. 

4. What if I don’t speak the second language fluently?

That’s okay! There are still numerous ways to foster second language development. Books, songs, and other resources can be utilized to create an environment that encourages language exploration and learning. 

Don’t know where to start? We curate an array of language-promoting resources for you. For example, you can find French resources recommended by teachers from Tessa French track, accredited by the French Ministry of Education, on our school website. Learning another language with your child will be a unique parenting experience and strengthen your role in their educational journey. 

5. What are the long-term benefits of bilingualism for young children?

The advantages of mastering another language are crystal clear: around 60% of the world population knows more than one language as of 2018. Therefore, bilingualism broadens communication skills, fosters cultural awareness, and opens doors to academic and professional success. 

More importantly than a higher annual salary bracket, there are fascinating and meaningful findings that bilingualism appears to delay the onset of degenerative cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The cognitive stimulation for managing two languages activates multiple aspects of brain activity and compensates for cognitive decline, promoting our children a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life

6. What should I do if my child mixes languages?

Language mixing, or code-switching, is a natural phenomenon among non-monolingual learners. It signifies active usage of both languages and bilingual thinking rather than confusion. 

Some researchers suggest that code-switching reflects an intellectual advantage by demonstrating the comprehension of different cultures as well as an understanding of the fundamental structures and functions of language systems. Therefore, the key to supporting your child through language mixing is to encourage appropriate expression and celebrate their bilingual development.. With the right support, your child will learn to separate languages sooner than you can imagine. 

7. How can I make learning two languages fun for my toddler?

Toddlers thrive on playful interactions. There are numerous fun and engaging opportunities for language building through play, music, and books. You can learn more about play-based learning activities practical at home here

A parent feels proud for her twin boys' Mandarin Chinese development through Tessa Nursery Program.

At Tessa International School, we provide a bilingual education based on happiness.

8. How much exposure does my child need to become fluent?

There is no exact formula for fluency. Factors like the quality of exposure, age, and family background all play a role in children’s language development. 

“Finally, there is no good measure of ‘enough exposure.’ “

Dr. François Grosjean, a Professor Emeritus and former Director of the Language and Speech Processing Laboratory at the University of Neuchâtel.

Like any other skill, language learning takes practice and time. Evidence above shows that children who experience two languages from birth consistently have the potential to develop into native speakers of both languages. 

At Tessa International School, our nursery, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary programs provide children with everyday opportunities to practice both languages, fostering natural and lasting fluency.

9. Will my child eventually prefer one language over the other?

The notion of perfectly balanced bilingualism is ideological. In other words, bilingualism is not static, existing on a continuum in which one’s proficiency is constantly changing over time. Bilinguals often have a dominant and a minority language based on complex strands of social, cultural, and educational influences, so it is understandable for people to display language dominance

However, Tessa’s Immersion Progression Model is thoughtfully designed to help your child maintain a balance instead of losing these valuable language assets. 

  • 80:20 Immersion Stage: At Tessa, from Nursery through Kindergarten, the majority of instruction (80%) is conducted in the target language to ensure sufficient exposure of the minority language, allowing students to build strong, life-long foundations in the language.
  • 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. 

You can learn more about the Model here

10. Are there specific programs or schools that support bilingualism for toddlers?

Yes! At Tessa International School, we offer world-class bilingual education for ages 2-10. Differing from other schooling programs, our nursery program provides a special introduction to initiate your child to a second language, develops their creativity through various play-based activities, and prepares them to become lifelong learners.

  • A Bilingual Program: When it comes to bilingualism, the earlier the better. Daily exposure to dual languages builds children’s confidence and communication skills, preparing them to become bilingual, adaptable, and active citizens.
  • A World-Class Education: Guided by the International Baccalaureate, our nursery program provides a “roadmap” for toddlers to travel, with options for detours when their curiosity is peaked or the need for student-initiated action occurs. 
  • A Play-Based Curriculum: Balancing structured activities and free play, we encourage children to learn while having fun, inquire and make discoveries for themselves, aligned with one of the three educational pillars of our school mission – Happiness. 

You can download our Nursery Curriculum here

 

Are you ready to discover Hoboken’s leading international private school?

Contact Tessa International School to learn more! 

 

A preschooler concentrates on his Math Assessment, monitored by his teacher at Tessa International School.

Assessment in The IB PYP

Although it is often perceived as a straightforward measurement of what students have learned, assessment in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Year Programmes (PYP) extends beyond simple metrics. Rather, it is the feedback on the learning process. Effective PYP assessment is holistic, integrating a variety of purposeful strategies throughout the learning journey. It is also a collaborative process that involves students, teachers, families, and our community in meaningful ways. 

Grade 1 students in focus on their French Assessment aligned with the French School curriculum.

The prime objective of assessment in the PYP is to provide feedback on the learning process.

Why We Assess in IB PYP

From informal check-ins to school-required tests or projects, each assessment contributes differently to the ecosystem of a PYP classroom. At its core, PYP assessment aims to inform teaching and learning

  • For students, assessments allow them to reflect on their progress and therefore adjust their learning pathway to meet their goal. This is also part of their wider development of critical thinking and self-management
  • For teachers, assessments provide valuable insights that inform lesson planning and teaching strategies, enabling them to create an uplifting learning path forward. 
  • For families, assessment empowers parents with the knowledge of their child’s understanding and needs, supporting them to become active partners in children’s PYP journey and strengthening the school-home connection. 
  • For school, assessments guide school-wide decisions surrounding resources and curriculum, enhancing teachers and administrators’ collaboration to improve the learning environments

Understanding the prime objective of assessment brings clarity to teaching and learning, leading to the more actionable strategies as follows. 

What and How To Assess in IB PYP

The assessment approach (e.g. policy, processes, and practices) in the PYP is aligned with the program philosophy that inquiry-based learning is central to the curriculum framework. Therefore, the assessment evaluates both the process and products of inquiry, highlighting the Programme’s goal of continuing improvements for learners. In other words, when discussing “assessment,” we are telling the story of learning – where it began, how it evolved, how thinking shifted, and what understandings emerged.

Nevertheless, the question remains: How do we check for student understanding while they are still in the process of learning? 

To address this question, the latest PYP report, “PYP: From Principles into Practice (2018),” divides assessment into four dimensions: monitoring, documenting, measuring, and reporting on learning. Rather than being viewed as separate elements, these dimensions are integrated and flow together, reflecting learners’ process and progress in a whole image. 

4 dimensions of IB PYP Assessment weight differently, with a highlight on monitoring to collect students' learning evidence.

Each dimension has their own importance and value, providing a comprehensive view of students’ learning together.

This outline does not imply that summative assessments – more product-oriented evaluations such as End-of-Unit projects or single test grades – are entirely unimportant. Rather, these assessments are still relevant to students’ learning; they should be seen more as one of the opportunities to assess learning rather than the sole evidence. 

Assessment at Tessa

At Tessa International School, we believe in holistically-designed, developmentally appropriate assessments. Our assessments are thoughtfully designed to align with international and local curricula, including the U.S. Common Core Standards, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and the French, Spanish, and Chinese National Curricula.

Our assessments are designed to serve diverse purposes in relation to learningnamely, assessment of, for, and as learning. In other words, assessment is integral to students’ learning journeys, occurring throughout their educational experience in various forms and practices. Teachers employ a rich array of activities, strategies, and assessment artifacts to collect and record evidence on students’ learning.  Alongside teacher-devised assessment strategies, standardized tests are selectively incorporated based on subject area and grade level, forming a rich and balanced assessing approach that reflects validity and reliability.

Every trimester, report cards are issued to students from Nursery (PK2) to Elementary School Program (Grade 1 to Grade 5), tailored to document a detailed analysis and feedback of a student’s developmental performance.

“The reports reflect not only academic performance but also personal growth, such as collaboration, creativity, and responsibility, providing a comprehensive picture of each child’s development.  ”

– Our Assessment Policy: Report Cards. 

Our Grade 2 students collaborate on the peer assessment to develop their self evaluation and reflection skills.

Tessa incorporates a combination of teacher-devised evaluations as well as standardized tests for a valid and balanced assessment approach.

 

FAQs

Q: What is assessment in IB PYP? 

A: According to IBO, the PYP does not offer formal assessment. The prime objective of assessment in the PYP is to provide feedback on the learning process. Additionally, the PYP stresses the importance of students’ self-assessment and reflection. 

Q: How does the IB PYP assess students progress and development? 

A: PYP assessment focuses on continuous feedback through four dimensions: monitoring, documenting, measuring, and reporting on learning. This underpinned constructivist approach allows students to reflect on their learning and set goals for improvements. A variety of assessment methods can be employed, including formative and summative assessments, to gauge students progress in relation to their learning goals. 

Q: What is Tessa’s Assessment Policy? 

A: At Tessa International School, we believe in holistically-designed, developmentally appropriate assessments. Our assessment approach aligns with our integrated curriculum, involving the U.S. Common Core Standards, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and the French, Spanish, and Chinese National Curricula. With a consideration of valid, balanced, and reliable assessment evidence to best reflect students’ process and progress, we incorporate a combination of teacher-devised evaluations as well as standardized tests in our assessment practices. You can find more information here

 

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

Contact Tessa International School to learn more!

 

A student learns additions and subtractions with counting cubes.

Fostering Conceptual Understanding in Tessa International School’s Math Curriculum

We are living in an era of extraordinarily rapid change, where technological advances and global events unfold at an exponential pace every day. Amidst these transformations, we see incredible opportunities for growth and progress in our teaching-and-learning approach, aligned with our mission to prepare students as future leaders who are always ready to move forward.

This is where conceptual understanding comes in. Instead of relying on rote memorization, conceptual understanding engages our students in meaningful Math learning experiences built around consistent concepts, helping them build solid knowledge with deeper comprehension.

Students at Tessa International School actively learn with encouragement from our Math Teacher.

Conceptual understanding helps students learn more flexibly and retain knowledge better.

What Conceptual Understanding Is

Conceptual understanding refers to the process of organizing and connecting seemingly isolated facts in a meaningful way throughout the learning process. This ability to arrange, structure, and integrate knowledge builds cognitive competence, facilitating appropriate retrieval and application across various contexts and disciplines.

In the field of Math, conceptual understanding involves comprehending mathematical concepts, operations, and relationships. When students grasp a math concept, they perceive their knowledge as part of a larger, connected whole, rather than as isolated facts or single approaches. Consequently, conceptual understanding often leads to students finding that there is less to learn, as they can identify underlying similarities in superficially different situations. 

Examples of Conceptual Understanding in Math

According to Adding It Up: Helping Students Learn Math (National Academies Press, 2001), in addition to fluently verbalizing relationships among concepts, another significant indicator of conceptual understanding is the ability to represent Math situations differently and recognizing how they can be useful for different purposes. 

Take adding and subtracting fractions as an example. Students demonstrate conceptual understanding when they are able to use real-life examples, visual models (such as number bars), and the common denominator method to arrive at the same answer. Using different representations shows how students progress from understanding part-to-whole concepts to applying algorithmic steps, which also can support them to draw connections with integration in calculus at higher levels in the future. 

A student learns additions and subtractions with counting cubes.

The degree of conceptual understanding is related to the richness and extent of the connections students have made.

Math Education at Tessa

At Tessa International School, we believe Math is more than just memorizing formulas. We ensure our students truly understand the “why” behind every concept and how it applies to their interactions with the world through an integrated curriculum of IB PYP Math and Singapore Math. 

IB PYP Math

Concept-driven learning is at the heart of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), and Math, rather than being seen as a series of equations and theorems to be memorized, is viewed as a way of thinking that helps learners make sense of the world.

In this philosophy, the development of conceptual understanding can start much earlier than we might imagine, as IB PYP emphasizes the importance of the realistic, relevant conditions in which students live. Students acquire knowledge and skills by abstracting from their real-life experiences into symbolic notations and validating their understanding through problem-solving, where conceptual understanding shines.

Singapore Math

To fulfill the above idea that Math is a way of thinking, we implement the Singapore Math approach from Preschool to Primary School at Tessa, which is known for its intentional sequencing of concepts. This approach purposefully and efficiently organizes the Math terrain for students, breaking down complex concepts into simpler parts to build a strong foundation for advanced study. 

One of the key features of Singapore Math methodology is the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) progression, based on the work of American psychologist Jerome Bruner. The three-step learning method introduces Math concepts in a tangible way and progresses through increasing levels of abstraction. As the name suggests, students gradually gain a deeper understanding of a concept at hand through three modes of representations:

  • Physical objects (Concrete), 
  • Visual diagrams (Pictorial), 
  • Math symbols and numbers (Abstract).

A core principle of this method is that learning is not linear but should be revisited and built upon, with a strong sense of connectivity and increasing complexity. While the Singapore Math approach refers to this as a strategy of mental Math, the CPA method indicates the reasoning, arranging, and communicating of understanding at a conceptual level. 

 

There are multiple reasons why we love Math – we admire its intrinsic logic and beauty, and we value the passions and curiosity it inspires. More importantly, learning Math not only helps our students become more academically successful problem solvers, but its insistence on conceptual depth also develops a sense of resourcefulness and confidence, preparing them to excel in more complicated adventures, both within and beyond the classroom. 

 

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

Contact Tessa International School to learn more!

 

A parent engages in his son's sharing of his learning in IB PYP.

How to Support Your Child as An IB PYP Parent

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is widely regarded as one of the most rigorous educational curricula worldwide, designed to develop “inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help create a better, more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect” (International Baccalaureate Organization, or IBO). While it offers significant benefits, it’s natural for parents to feel uncertain about what it involves and how to best support their child, especially in the early stages of the IB Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), when children are just starting to explore how they learn. So, how can caregivers support their child’s exciting and rewarding educational journey?

A parent engages in his son's sharing of his learning in IB PYP.

As a PYP parent, there are multiple specific ways you can support your child.

IB PYP at A Glance

IB PYP nurtures and develops young students, aged 3-12, as caring, active participants in a lifelong journey of learning. This Programme focuses a student-centered approach, with its framework emphasizing the central principle of agency, which underpins the three pillars of school life:

  • the learner
  • learning and teaching
  • the learning community.

Embedded within this framework is the recognition of the importance of fostering an individual’s self-efficacy. Students with a strong sense of self-efficacy are active participants in their own learning and take meaningful action within their learning community.

5 Tips to Support Your Child as A Learning Partner

As essential members of their child’s learning community, IB PYP parents play a key role in helping them deepen their learning. Here are five accessible ways, shared by the IBO, for parents to support their child’s learning at home. If you’re wondering how to better assist your child, these strategies will help you guide them in becoming lifelong learners, whether through formal learning connected to school or through incidental, unplanned learning from play, exploration, and life experiences.

  1. Take an inquiry stance. Parents are primary role models of their children, so your attitudes and positions can radically transform how children engage with the world. Instead of providing immediate answers to your child’s questions, encourage curiosity by responding with open-ended questions like, “What do you notice?” or “How might we explore that further?” This approach not only fosters critical thinking but also reinforces the value of inquiry-based learning through shared discovery. 
  2. Support your child’s agency. Empower your child by involving them in decision-making and encouraging their self-expression. Create time and space for their independent discoveries, and hold back from giving too many suggestions. By supporting their choices and emphasizing personal responsibility in their learning, you nurture children’s independence and self-confidence. 
  3. Support conceptual understanding. This notion is at the heart of IB PYP, where learning occurs through concept-driven Units of Inquiry within a transdisciplinary framework. During the Inquiry Learning Cycle, consider asking questions such as “What strategy did you use?” and “How and why did you do that?” These questions value their approach to the answers, encouraging children to articulate their reasoning and remain actively engaged in learning. More importantly, this process promotes them to connect ideas across disciplines and subjects, fostering a richer and more meaningful understanding of abstract concepts. 
  4. Prioritize reflection. Being reflective is one of the core attributes of the IB Learner Profiles, helping individuals become responsible members of communities. By encouraging children to think about their own thinking, you can help them develop metacognitive abilities and facilitate higher order thinking, including application, analysis, evaluation, and creation.
  5. Give feedback that goes beyond the moment. Comparing questions like “How are you doing?” with “What might come next? ”, you will find that the former may result in less thoughtful and forward-looking responses, while the latter shifts the focus from immediate, isolated outcomes to continuous learning. Whether during Student-Led Conferences or everyday learning moments, it is beneficial for parents to guide their children toward long-term growth and future inquiry.

IB PYP at Tessa International School

Tessa is proud to be an IB World School offering the PYP to students aged 2 to 10. Following its transdisciplinary framework, excellence spans across Science, Social Studies, Language and Literacy, Math, Arts, Social-Emotional Learning, and Physical Education, all while nurturing a lifelong love of learning in our students. 

As an international school offering bilingual education, the robust French National, Spanish, and Chinese Curricula as well as the US Standards are seamlessly integrated into our IB PYP Framework, formulating our distinctive educational approach. Students actively engage with dynamic unit topics through an immersive language experience grounded in real-life situations.

 

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

Contact Tessa International School to learn more! 

What is immersion education?

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Immersion education is a teaching method where students learn all subjects in a target language like French, Spanish, or Mandarin. It works best when children start early, as they can easily pick up language nuances. These classrooms offer efficient learning environments with quick transitions.

Teachers who are fluent and native speakers of the target language, commit to speaking it consistently. They use the target language during instruction, transitions, outdoor play, and meal times. Teachers pay close attention to students’ needs and individual learning styles.

 

The classroom features a literacy-rich environment with pictures, labels, and meaningful visuals to support the target language throughout the day. Teachers adeptly help comprehension through non-verbal clues and smart teaching strategies.

Days are organized, routines are consistent, and key phrases and vocabulary repeat often to boost vocabulary development. Children make connections across the curriculum as the target language and English curriculum align, reinforcing concepts and ideas in both languages.

Will your child lose their English?

Research indicates that children in immersion settings perform the same or better than their non-immersion peers.

What if you don’t speak the target language at home?

Your child can still succeed and gain proficiency even if you don’t speak the target language. Homework uses songs and games to review classroom learning in a fun and engaging way. Strong communication with your child’s teacher is essential for success.

It’s all in the way we learn…Total Physical Response (TPR)

James Asher, an American professor, developed a language teaching approach known as Total Physical Response (TPR) in the 1960s. This method suggests that memory improves when linked with physical movements.

TPR-based activities help children learn language through movements. These activities complement the classroom curriculum, and are both engaging and enjoyable.

We may not always think of TPR, but many games have TPR principles built in, like “Simon Says” or “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”. For example, TPR can be applied in learning Mandarin:

TPR enhances both short-term and long-term memory. When we learn to ride a bike, we always remember how, regardless of the years that have passed. We might need a quick refresher, but the skills remain.

TPR offers several benefits, such as helping learners understand target languages and supporting long-term retention in a stress-free way. This method can teach vocabulary related to actions, classroom directions, and storytelling. Teachers plan lessons with TPR to encourage engagement and improve listening fluency. Once learners have enough listening fluency, they start speaking the target language. Below is an example of TPR in the classroom.

You can read more at Total Physical Response (TPR).

Focusing on individual learning needs improves learning outcomes

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Understanding Individual learning?

Individual learning is closely related to differentiated instruction. While differentiated instruction focuses on flexible grouping of children, individualized instruction emphasizes the needs of each child. Good classrooms balance both differentiated methods and individualized learning to create an engaging and stimulating learning environment.

Why is individualized instruction important?

Meeting the varied needs of children can be a daunting task for educators. It takes more planning and assessment of student progress, but the benefits far outweigh the cons. Individualized instruction prepares children to become active and effective learners, developing the skills needed to be lifelong learners in an ever-evolving world. With the varied aptitude levels of children, individualized instruction uses their differences to increase morale, retain information, and enhance engagement in learning.

Starting the Process?

There are five essential steps to creating a successful individual learning classroom:

 

  1. Setting specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely goals
  2. Goals should be challenging
  3. Setting goals that are dynamic and reviewed regularly
  4. Letting students own their progress
  5. Active Parent Involvement

What are some methods to individualize learning?

Teachers plan carefully and collaboratively to ensure they use meaningful data to gain insights on how individual children progress toward a goal. Shifting away from lengthy whole-group lessons to more play-based centers and inquiry-based projects allows for strategic use of current technological resources. Teachers design engaging lessons that tap into the natural curiosity of each child.

Providing opportunities for children to approach their learning in various ways offers more chances to retain information, improving morale and excitement for learning.

What are the benefits of individual learning?

Individualized learning allows students to learn at their own pace with teacher direction. They still work towards rigorous and challenging learning outcomes, but they are provided with a variety of ways to demonstrate their learning that lead to positive outcomes.

Join us at Tessa International School

Discover why our bilingual curriculum is recognized as one of the best. Learn how we combine academic excellence with engaging, interactive experiences that foster global awareness.

Join us at Tessa International School

Discover why our bilingual curriculum is recognized as one of the best. Learn how we combine academic excellence with engaging, interactive experiences that foster global awareness.

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