Camp MK is our new summer program
for kids 3-7.
Click to learn more!
Multilingual Kids
Our Multilingual Kids program provides infants through adolescents
with language exposure and fun. It's never too early to start learning
a second language, and the cognitive and social benefits of second
language exposure are tremendous. To that end, we have a variety
of classes at our center, or we can come to your school. Click
here
for schedules and to register!
Enjoy our beautiful new facility while your child
learns another language! While our Parent & Tot classes are
obviously designed for your participation, our preschool and older
classes allow you the flexibility of an hour of errands - or some
time to relax in our Language Cafe, help yourself to organic coffee
or tea, use our wireless, read a magazine or chat with other parents.
Our kids' classes include:
Camp MK: Camp MK is our summer Spanish program for kids ages 3-7. For six weeks, your kids will play games, sing, dance and do arts & crafts projects – all in Spanish! Kids will learn about different Spanish-speaking countries and put together a travel journal to document their experiences.
Camp MK will be held in Unity Park - 2636 N. Kimball Ave. in Logan Square.
French Meetup: French conversation and music featuring French Singer/Guitarist Amandine Minaud, who will be singing French Pop songs from Christophe Mae, Rose, De Palmas, and Jean-Jacques Goldman. Admission is FREE for this event, so come on by next Tuesday for some French conversational practice while listening to lovely music.
Parents and Tots: For kids 1-3 years old and their parents, begin your exposure to a second language through songs, movement and laughter. Class meets for 50 minutes once a week for 8 weeks. Price: $180 (drop-in rate of $24 per class)
Kids 3-5: This independent class is designed to teach colors, numbers, body parts, emotions, shapes and other core vocabulary through games, art projects, songs and lots of laughter. Class meets for one hour once a week for 8 weeks. Price: $180 (drop-in rate of $24 per class)
Story Time and Play: This program is designed for kids (birth through 5) and their parents/caregivers and will include story time in Spanish as well as open play - all facilitated by one of our Spanish for Kids instructors. Great for kids, great for adults! Price: $5 per class, including yummy organic snacks. No pre-registration - first-come, first-served basis, maximum 15 kids. Pay when you arrive!
Kids 6-8: Our language classes for 6-8 year olds introduce kids to language in fun and engaging ways, developing their vocabulary around colors, numbers, foods, body parts, adjectives and animals, and encouraging early conversations.
(This class is not currently scheduled but can be offered if we have 4 or more kids interested. If your child would be interested, email us! **We also offer at-school programs - just ask for details!**)
For schedules and to register, click here.
For new classes, it typically only takes a group of four, so if there's
a language, schedule or age group that you're interested in but don't
see, let us know, and we'll do
our best to accommodate! And as always, private classes are available
for adults and kids of all ages, whether to help ensure success with
Advanced Placement exams, to help kids keep up with their language
classes, for international travel or for any interest/need.
School Programs
Looking for a language enrichment program for your
school? Whether part of your before-school or extended-day program,
or during the school day itself, let Multilingual Chicago bring
our trainers, our curriculum and our experience to your students.We
work with all ages and will happily accommodate your scheduling
needs. All languages are available - just
ask! *And yes, we're a CPS certified vendor.
FAQs
My child is just learning a first language
- won't a second language confuse her?
No! Multilingualism is actually the norm in many places around the
world, and kids raised in these environments have no problem distinguishing
between different languages and knowing which language to use with
whom.
How soon will my child be fluent?
Flueny in a language takes a really long time to achieve, so it's
important to be realistic. Think about how long it takes a child
to learn his/her native language - and that's after an incredible
amount of exposure (direct language, indirect language, reading,
music, etc.). If you want your child to be fluent - or at least
proficient - in a second language, the earlier the exposure, the
better. But even the best weekly class isn't going to work miracles.
Fluency is developed over many years and as a result of intense
exposure to the language. Be realistic, but also be aggressive:
enroll your child in language classes, play music in the language,
read books aloud to him/her in the language (we can help you with
this through our adult classes!),
join bilingual playgroups, travel to a country where the language
is spoken - the more, the better!
Can I sit in on class? Classes for our youngest group - 1 to 3 years - are designed
for a parent or caregiver to be present. Our classes for older kids
are designed as independent classes, so to the extent possible,
we encourage parents to relax in the Language Cafe (with an occasional
peek through the glass door) while the kids are in class.
How soon will you introduce grammar?
Just like you don't talk to your toddler about gerunds and adverbs,
we don't, either. Kids learn language through hearing it over and
over in context - explicit rules about language come much later.
Our classes focus on providing kids vocabulary as building blocks
for communication in a fun, interactive and engaging way.
What can I do in between classes to help support
my child's learning?
After each class, parents will be given a take-home sheet with the
vocabulary covered in class, as well as a brief activity to help
your child practice what was covered. If you speak the language
your child is studying (even poorly!), we encourage you to use it
with him/her. If not, the take-home sheet will help guide you, and
you can easily find short videos in the language on youtube or play
music in the language. If you need additional suggestions (or specific
resources), ask your child's instructor or the Multilingual Chicago
staff!
What are some good resources for learning
about raising a bilingual child?
There are lots of great resources available! Take a look at some
books like Raising
a Bilingual Child or 7
Steps to Raising a Bilingual Child, visit our Multilingual Kids
blog
and reach out to other parents who are doing their best to raise
their child in more than one language. It's not always easy, but
the benefits are tremendous!
Other questions?
Just contact us! Also feel free
to contact Jill Bishop, Multilingual Chicago's founder, who has
a PhD in Linguistic Anthropology and is trying to raise her 3-year
old to be bilingual. She's the first to admit that it's not easy
- especially when you're not a native speaker of the second language.
