Spanish Lessons for 7-10 Year Olds
Parent Q&A
Archived Q&A and Reviews
After school classes in Spanish
April 2011
Looking for recommendations for high-quality afterschool programs in Spanish that provide a variety of enrichment activities and outdoor fun in the general Berkeley/Oakland area for grades K-5 kids. Most interested in programs that go from end of school day until about 5:30 or 6pm. Homework support in Spanish a plus. working parent
Escuela Bilingue Internacional on Alcatraz below College in Oakland has after school programs in their Spanish immersion school that goes from preschool to 8th grade. I'm not sure if their school year program is open to students outside their school, but they definitely have * summer school * in Spanish open to preschool and elementary school kids. Two week sessions are morning, afternoon, or both. - happy parentEditor Note: responses were also received from these businesses: Lango Kids and Viva el Espanol.
Feb 2010
hello. i am looking for a place and/or person to work with my son in learning spanish on-going & long-term. any recommendations for an after school class, personal teacher or leaning group? gracias! leslie
Hola, You should really check out 'Viva El Espanol' learning Center.They have a variety of locations in the Bay Area, but their main campus is in Lafayette. The teachers are wonderful and the classes are really fun and innovative. My children have been attending sessions for the past 3 yrs (they are 5 and 6yrs old) and are Bilingual.They're website is www.vivaelespanol.org , their phone number is (925)962-9177. Hope this helps! Denise
Lango offers Spanish classes (also French and Mandarin) all over the Bay Area - various times and locations. www.langokids.com Cheryl
Maintaining kids' Spanish after a year in Ecuador
June 2003
We've been living in Ecuador for the last year with our two daughters, ages 5 and 8, and they are now rattling away in Spanish to each other and friends. We will be returning to Oakland this summer and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about how to keep up their Spanish when we are back. I can't think of any obvious way to maintain their Spanish effectivley. If we lived in Berkeley we would do everything we could to get them in one of the immersion programs. But Oakland, and Chabot, (their school), has no immersion programs. I have never heard of a Spanish Bilingual private school in the East Bay. Is there one? Having them take an afternoon class a week doesn't seem like much. We have friends that they can talk with but its not the same as full day immersion in Spanish (Our Spanish is passable but not good enough to conduct our home lives in Spanish). Any thoughts? Thanks, Liz
I would try to have your children make friends with Spanish speaking children at school and invite them over for after-school play as often as possible. Try to encourage them to watch Spanish-language TV. Unfortunately there aren't many good children programs on network TV (though they do have cartoons), so you may want to check into cable-TV offerings. buena suerte! anon
We have a similar circumstance as you -- we have spent a sabbatical year living in Mexico, returning in August, and now have a 5 year old son who speaks Spanish much better then we do. (How do they get that subjunctive tense!??) Though we live in Berkeley we are sad that we didn't get into the Cragmont immersion program as it would have been a natural extension for him (grumble grumble at the school choice lottery...)
But to assure that he continues to be truly bilingual we are doing several things: 1) It may be impractical for you, but we are bringing back a Mexican student to live with us, enjoy a California adventure, and speak only Spanish with our son. At the least you might try to find an occasional babysitter who can speak spanish with your children. Also, lots of Cal students speak spanish and you might ''employ'' one to come over to talk with your kids afew times a week. 2) Before we left Berkeley, my son took a Saturday kids class at Centro Latino. Perhaps they will offer a more ''advanced spanish'' course for kids like ours if we get enough interest. Also, Habitot Children's Museum in Berkeley is starting a spanish language class -- ditto re influencing them to hold an ''advanced class'' as their classes are always great. 3) I know of at least one other child in Berkeley/Oakland who is spanish-english bilinqual -- I am sure there are MANY -- perhaps we can organize a play group when we get back?? The rule: solo hablando en espanol! Anybody interested please feel free to send me a personal email. Felicidades on giving your children the gift of two languages! Kathy
There are wonderful new spanish lessons for 1-14 year olds in both Lafayette and Piedmont put on by 1 Worldly Wise Language & Culture Organization. The classes are for beginners & those with experience and kids have a lot of fun doing what they like to do in Spanish with age-appropriate activities. Check out the website at www.1worldlc.org chris
Hi,
I never had any interest in Spanish, but I happened to see that my favorite community college has some old (and thus free) resources on this topic. Here's the link:
https://archive.ccsf.edu/Departments/Language_Center/oll/spanish/index…;