Lingua Natal Language Development Series
Programs in an after school setting for children K-6th Grade
Lingua Natal, formerly known as KidSchool, offers structured programs based on the latest research in cognitive psychology and language acquisition and is designed specifically to stimulate children’s natural enthusiasm for language and communication.
Our teachers are specifically trained in our methodology and are dynamic, energetic and fun.
What is unique about us in the field of foreign languages for children is the fact that we take the children through the complete process of language acquisition.
Our comprehensive and eight level program takes the children from the beginners level to the proficiency level in any foreign language they desire to take. Moreover and very importantly, as a result of the nature of our programs, we cater both native and language learners in our language programs form age 1 to 12.
Lingua Natal program is full immersion, multi sensory, hands on and fun. Our teachers are trained to teach a second language to children in an immersion setting where the “process” of language acquisition is respected.
Our groups are small and our children get plenty of attention and time to participate and interact in the target language.
A comprehensive road to fluency
The Beginners’ level: The Fundamentals Track/Program
This is a two year highly cognitively stimulating, high energy and fun program, a minimum of 150 hours of full immersion.
Before the children can start on firm grounds to “acquire “ a new language, they go through a very preliminary period where they are just processing various tones and sounds and finding their comfort in the “environment” as they start associating sounds to actual objects/visuals/things they taste/they can feel etc.
Once they start making associations, they embark on what we call “The comprehension” Period. In this first period of language acquisition, students will not be speaking the language yet. They will be absorbing all the sounds and tones and making associations.
Parents are highly encouraged to visit the classroom while their child is in the beginning stages of language development in order to witness for themselves their child’s progress in comprehending the language.
The students are not expected to remember all that they do and say in class outside their “controlled environment” in this period.
Students start speaking spontaneously somewhere in this period and that is when they are ready for their next stage in language acquisition:
Stimulating
High Energy & Fun Enviroment
Acquisition
Learning Through Listening
Association
Common Objects & Stimuli
The Intermediate Levels: The Bilingual Track/Program
There are four levels in this Bilingual Track. A minimum of 300 hours in total.
“Learning or knowledge” will be the eventual natural result of many hours of joyous interaction and comprehension in the Fundamentals Track/program.
Reading and writing are an integral part of the Bilingual Track/Program. Students start by reading that which they comprehend, eventually they will write that which they read and only then will they start becoming familiar with grammar and conjugation!
Our students continue their progress in the acquisition of the target language on the road to fluency in the Bilingual Track by being immersed in context and content based curriculum where they learn about the Natural Sciences, Geography, Social Studies at the same time.
Bilingual
Fluency Through Interaction
Reading & Writing
Grammar & Conjugation
Education
Science, Geography & History
The advanced levels:
There are two years in this level. We are still developing this stage in our language development series.