Workbook
Each unit, like "The Family", "Food" or "Clothing", has 3–4 pages of creative activities, a vocabulary list and cultural notes.
Curriculum overview
12 to 22-week sessions in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Polish and Mandarin Chinese for students in grades K–8th. Classes of 8–14, grouped by age and level, usually once a week before or after school or at lunchtime. Twice-weekly classes are available too.
- 12–22Weeks per session
- 8–14Students per class
- 6Languages
What students learn
New curriculum is developed every school year, so students can keep going level after level. To test the interest at your school, an 8-week pilot can run any time of the year.
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First year
The everyday world
Cultural aspects of Mexico, France, Germany, Italy or Poland. Auxiliary verbs for older students only.
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Advancing
Getting around
Cultural study of Spain and South America, West Africa and Canada, Austria and Switzerland, Italy, Poland or China.
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Grammar
Learned naturally
Singular and plural, negative and interrogative forms. Prepositions and common verbs are not drilled; students learn the concepts deductively, in a natural way.
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Levels 4 & 5
Ready for high school
For students who have completed three or four years with us. Much more reading and writing than earlier workbooks, and excellent preparation for language classes in junior high or high school.
Materials included
CD
Follows the class topics exactly, a great tool for practice at home.
Handouts
Extra sheets during the session for current events and holidays.
Schools and teachers can order all materials from our bookstore.
Program guidelines
Read these before launching a program at your school or registering your child.
Enrollment
Once the day(s) and time are chosen, we prepare enrollment forms for eligible students. They are distributed at school and returned with payment to the school office or our main office about 7–10 days later. A sample form is available on request. We handle all administration.
Class size
8–14 students per teacher and language, divided by grade and ability whenever possible.
Teachers
Fluent in English and the target language; native speakers, people who lived abroad extensively, or graduates in the language. Over half are certified, the rest have teaching experience, and all are trained in our method.
Evaluation
A supervisor periodically evaluates lesson preparedness, games and movement, use of the target language, students' knowledge, pronunciation, participation, discipline and enthusiasm.
Communication
Parents receive the teacher's phone number and email on day one, and weekly emails about class and homework. Parents may observe any time, there are usually two open houses, and a parent survey midway.
Schedule
Each child gets the class dates according to the school calendar. A cancelled class is added at the end and a revised schedule is sent home. The school office receives every class list and calendar.
Materials
Each student receives a workbook and a CD to bring every week, plus extra handouts.
Progress reports
Sent home about every 12 weeks, or more often on request.
Supervision
Teachers arrive 10 minutes before class and stay until the last student is picked up, calling the home, work or emergency numbers if needed. A child is never left unattended.
Field trip
At the end of the session, students go with their teacher to an ethnic restaurant. Parents and siblings are invited.
Summer challenge
Simple summer tasks, like watching 10 minutes of a Spanish channel or teaching a sibling to say their birthday, keep the language going. Students who complete them receive a dictionary in the fall.
Insurance
We provide liability insurance for our programs. A certificate is available on request.
Length
The longest program runs 22 weeks and covers the school year. 12 and 14-week programs are very common, and an 8-week pilot can start any time.