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Talks for Talks for professionals working with bilingual children Australian Newsletter for Bilingual
Families Snippets for Bilingual Families Resources |
 Language
Champs
Classes
for Preschoolers Business Review For
something new on the Melbourne market, have a look at Language Champs, an exciting foreign language program for children.
This rapidly growing program is receiving many accolades and will certainly
soon be known by many. Language
Champs offers classes to children
aged 2 to 8 in French, German, Spanish and Japanese across Melbourne suburbs. The program provides a
natural and enjoyable way for children to learn a second language. Carefully
selected native speaking teachers with experience with children, teach the
classes. Activities change quickly from gross motor movements to quiet
activities appealing to the children¹s fine motor abilities. Activities
include fun games, songs, toys and art as well as stories and puppets. Classes are between 2 and 8 children
in size, 55 minutes in length and are offered in the morning and after
school. Karen
Hodgson searched and was unable to find a play-based foreign language program
for her preschooler. Thus, she founded Language Champs. She recruited Christiane Deller, who has an
extensive teaching background.
Both were taught multiple languages from birth. Christiane creates the
curriculum, and Karen manages the day-to-day details. Lessons are prepared by
Christi-ane in advance to guarantee the same high quality across teachers,
languages and venues. The
lessons are structured around themes, such as Transportation, Party Time and Three Little Pigs. The themes provide organisation to the vocabulary
and grammar and motivate relevant activities, songs and games for optimal
language absorption. Parents receive
materials with topics for each Term, word sheets and text of songs for home
use. Parents may stay to observe the class and to learn the games, songs and
words to rein-force at home.
This is a great set-up for young children learning a new language.
Participating in lessons may spark ideas in you to add to your own language
to your child at home. If you
want to (re-)introduce your language to your toddler or preschooler Language
Champs may support you with your
language extension plan. You
might meet other parents in much
the same situation. For more information on the philosophy, venues and
times visit www.languagechamps.
com.au. Alternatively, you can phone 8598 9198 or write an email to: karen@language
champs.com.au. Last
updated: December 23rd, 2006 |
