Testimonials
We spent the summer in China and wanted our son to continue with exposure to the Chinese language. We couldn't be happier with the BrightSteps program. Our son loves the class and is excited to practice his skills at home. The instructor does an excellent job of keeping him engaged with fun & exciting activities. He is not only learning basic vocabulary but also so much about the Chinese culture. Thank you!
-Tara
We tried other language programs, but BrightSteps stands out for the sheer quality of teaching by skilled, experienced educators. That our child has so much fun learning is icing on the cake.
-Jim
This is one of Luca's favorite classes. He loves the teachers and all the fun activities. When he was just 1 year old, he started standing at our door and shouting "vamos" when it was time to go!
-Heather
BrightSteps has been a wonderful introduction to Spanish for my 4 year old daughter. The teachers truly understand how to enable children to connect with a foreign language. My daughter is bringing up Spanish words in daily conversations, observations, and she often sings Spanish songs herself. It is a joy to see that she's "thinking" in Spanish and only after one session!
-Ellen
Julia has a good group in the Spanish language program. The quality of the BrightSteps program is top notch and the instructors are wonderful!
-Anita
BrightSteps is a wonderful and innovative program. Through use of play and fun while doing everyday activities they have instilled a love for the Spanish language in our 3.5 year old daughter Sanaa. This summer every morning when Sanaa wakes up she asks "do I have Spanish today?" And if the answer is yes her face lights up! She adores Gil and Carmenza who have already taught her so many things. I have been so impressed with the program that I have already enrolled her for a twice/wk program for this fall!
-Dolan
BrightSteps offers a fun and challenging program in a warm and encouraging environment. My son looks forward to attending class and is fond of his teachers. He is eager to learn more Spanish and he told me that sometimes he dreams in Spanish!
-Donna
Before enrolling Jayrene in your program, she was highly reluctant to learn Spanish. Surprisingly, just 3 months later, she was engaging in Spanish dialogue; at her preschool she was named "Spanish Teacher's Assistant." Jayrene constantly mentions how much she loves her Spanish class and her instructors!
-Irene
Parent/Caregiver Participation (Baby Steps)
It is necessary for parents/caregivers to participate in our
Baby Steps classes when coming in with your child, since they will look up to you as a role model and mimic your actions in class. It is important to note that you should have NO expectations from your child in Baby Steps since at this age children are exploring and have limited attention spans. Regardless, they are actively listening and capturing the language as they curiously explore the fun BrightSteps environment through music, art, games, drama and storytelling.
Parents are also recommended to purchase books, cds, and dvd's to further help your child at home with the language he/she is learning. Even if the new language is not spoken at home, by providing your child with additional resources he/she will learn quicker!
Other great ways for your child to learn a foreign language is to listen to music, watch TV programs and watch movies in the respective language. Below is a list of some resources:
Resources for Parents
Basic Spanish Words with Pronunciation
http://members.aol.com/alvareze/spanish/
Bilingual Books for Kids
www.bilingualbooks.com
Bilingual Families Web Page
www.nethelp.no/cindy/biling-fam.html
Bilingual Parenting in a Foreign Language
http://humanities.byu.edu/bilingua/
Foreign Language Resources
http://webgerman.com/languages/
Jose-Luis Orozco
http://www.joseluisorozco.com/
SpanishToys.com
www.spanishtoys.com
Welcome to Mr. Shivers' Kindegarten Class!
http://hall.gresham.k12.or.us/shivers.html
World of Reading
www.wor.com
