Many Von endorsed programs  offer second language integration in Spanish (to view all programs, click here). The point of second language integration, regardless of the language, is not to garner fluency but to make it easier for the child to pick up other languages formally in grade school and develop cultiral social skills.  It's amazing to see children speak in Spanish while having dinner in a Latin American country!

 

We have consulted with speech pathologists, early learning experts and brain based developmental authorities on this and learned that the benefits of early exposure to a second language are significant. Here are the key points that make early exposure to a second language especially beneficial to young children (information taken from Alberta Education website):

 

Intellectual Potential

• Students exposed early second language create more brain based neural connections.

• Students studying a second language do extremely well in divergent thinking tasks and in memory ability and attention span.

 

Scholastic Achievement

• Second language students have higher test scores in reading, language and mathematics.

• Each additional year of second language training created a greater positive differential compared to students not receiving a second language.

 

Effect on First Language

• Second language education significantly strengthens first language skills in areas of reading, English vocabulary, grammar and communication skills.

• The earlier the start, the greater the positive effect on the first language.

 

Citizenship

• Students studying a second language have superior cross-cultural skills and adapt better to varying cultural contexts.

• Students studying a second language display greater cultural sensitivity.

 

With these compelling points, we are proud of the global citizenship emphasis in our programs, and our ability to offer children the chance to be exposed to not only second language learning, but also new cultures!