Learning to Speak a 2nd language is a Great Idea! |
In the United
States, millions of families speak a language other than English at home. Both Spanish and Chinese are widely spoken throughout the world. |
Learning a second language at a young age enhances a child's overall language skills and produces lifelong benefits:
- Children who study a foreign language increase their mental flexibility and creativity
- Transfer skills used between their first and second languages
- Improve their understanding of English
- Learn to understand, appreciate, and respect diverse cultures
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Let's Speak Spanish - or Chinese! |
Welcome to the leading before and after school language enrichment program in the Twin Cities.
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We
are a Minneapolis based business offering language instruction for
children and adults, translating, interpreting and proficiency testing
services since 1985.
In the
mid-1990s, we responded to the parent-led demand for high quality
foreign language instruction by developing Hablemos Español!. We are excited to offer Chinese for Children as well. We provide a rich, meaningful language learning experience for hundreds of
students in K-8 schools throughout the metro. |
Teaching Methods & Curriculum |
We design our
curriculum using the latest in language acquisition research and
teaching methods. |
ULC specializes in Accelerated Learning, a method
defined by a whole-mind, whole-body approach that engages all of the
senses in the learning process. Children respond especially well to our
classroom-tested dynamic activities that combine movement, music and
art to boost language acquisition.
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The "Immersion Classroom" |
Children
learn foreign language best when their native language is not used for
the instruction. |
Remember that a child develops comprehension skills
in their first language long before they speak their first words. Our
teachers use the target language as much as 95% of the time and use
English on a limited basis to support comprehension in the first few
lessons. Children are extremely adaptable to this communication
strategy and adjust in about 3 to 5 classes. |
Our Teachers |
Our
professional commitment to excellence in language acquisition attracts
the best & brightest educators from a worldwide pool of talent. |
Each instructor has the proficiency of an educated native speaker, a
bachelor's degree or higher in education or a related field, and has
demonstrated effectiveness in working with children. They nurture the innate gift children have of learning a new language. |