Our daughter, Ellie, started taking Mandarin classes at Little Linguists Academy in September, 2006, when she was barely 2 and had just been adopted from
China. She was speaking some Mandarin and we didn't want her to lose that ability. Since she was so young, I attended class with her for the first year or so, so I got to see how the classes worked firsthand.
From the first week, I have been impressed with how child-focused the classes are and how much fun the kids have learning. The class is like a great play
group conducted in Mandarin, with time for singing, dancing, a simple craft, and a snack built into each class. The teachers really pay attention to whether the
kids are enjoying the activity and are willing and ready to switch activities within minutes if what they're doing isn't working on a particular day. I have been particularly impressed with their patience and their joy in teaching young children. In the time I attended class with Ellie, I got to see the teachers work with a wide variety of personalities and they were unfailingly helpful, constructive, focused on learning, and interested in making it fun.
Ellie goes to class by herself now that she's almost 5 and she still loves going. She sings Mandarin songs in the car often and corrects my pronunciation when I try to sing along (""MOM! Watch my lips!""). Taking classes at Little Linguists Academy has been a completely positive experience for us and I would highly recommend it to others.
-- Ginny Moffat
Pros: Full-immersion, fun
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