New Approach to Teaching Language Takes Root
Photo courtesy of Lango Laguna An interactive teaching style is used in a language immersion class for young children, an approach the Laguna Beach school district will try in their classes also. School administrators intend to revise the study of foreign language for younger students to be more engaging, fun and interactive, mirroring a similar formula that's working well at Lango Laguna, a fledgling foreign language immersion program for children ages 1 to 9.
Laguna Beach mom Shelley Wineke started Lango Laguna because she could not find what she considered a suitable foreign language school in the south county area.
Lango Laguna offers Spanish and French and now Mandarin. The instruction method incorporates tactile learning along with a text whose characters come to life in the form of puppets.
"It's interactive with games and music. We make it fun for the kids so it's not drudgery, not filled with facts, but playful," Wineke said.
The inspiration came from her daughter, Marit, who was 18 months old when Wineke was pregnant with a second child, son Mac. During doctor-ordered bed rest, Wineke was surprised by the influence of a Spanishspeaking au pair on her daughter. "I realized she was speaking fluent Spanish. I was amazed."
She was equally surprised to find no classes for young children to reinforce her daughter's newfound skill. "Ok, I'm going to have to do something about that," said Wineke, the genesis of Lango Laguna. Classes are held at Oasis Child, a downtown retailer.
Parent Anne Chen participated in a French class Tot and Parent with her 3-year-old daughter. Cassidy easily identified different colors spoken in French, showing her aptitude by jumping to the appropriately colored hoop.
"I'm originally from Taiwan and I speak Mandarin. I wanted to expose her to different languages, expose her to south Orange County. I see it as an opportunity to involve her in both; it's very exciting," said Chen, who teaches her daughter in English and Chinese at home.
Chen is amazed how easily Cassidy and other children pick up different languages and can distinguish between them. "I want her to get exposure now. I think for kids the earlier they start, the easier is for sure."
Wineke pointed out that the district funded language programs, such as the after school Spanish classes available for first-third grades, intersect well with her program.
On Tuesday, giving a midyear progress report, the district reviewed foreign language plans for the 2009/2010 school year.
Nancy Hubbell, superintendent of instructional services, explained that the free afterschool Spanish program for grades first-third would change from twice a week hourly classes to one hour a week.
"The whole program will have more interaction; we're revamping so it is activity based and oriented," Top of the World principal Ron La Mott said of the first-third-grade program. "The exposure will get the students enthusiastic to learn the language; it's very exciting, hands-on."
For the first time in at least 17 years, the district is introducing a language program for fourth and fifth graders beginning next fall. In addition to one hour per week with computers and the library, in the next school year students will also receive an hour of Spanish instruction, with a quarter of the hour devoted to cultural appreciation, such as music, La Mott said.
La Mott likes the Lango approach and believes it will foster language learners.
Wineke's children, Marit, 4, and Mac, 2, are embarking on French and Spanish. She feels dual language is just the beginning for many children.
Her hope is for kindergarten classes in the district to start teaching Spanish again, though LaMott held out little hope.
Thurston will offer Mandarin through the Berlitz Language Center in a 12-week course session starting Feb. 2.
The San Francisco-based Lango franchise relies on 30 years of language experience, including cultural exchange. Each franchise is individually tailored to meet the needs of the market.
For information about Lango Laguna, call 371-3656. Most classes are at Oasis Child, 380 Glenneyre St.
