New Bilingual Program for Kids Opens in Scarsdale NY

Little Linguists is a new kind of bilingual program for kids in Westchester County offering immersion Spanish education as well as classes for native Spanish speakers.

When Paula Otero and Rocio Zapatero saw their children's Spanish language skills dwindling as they began speaking English at school, they knew there was a need in the Westchester community for a new kind of bilingual program. Inspired, the two native Spanish speakers founded Little Linguists.

Beginning in September, children will be able to enroll in three programs where they can learn about Spanish language and culture from native certified teachers: Immersion Spanish for non-native speakers, Native Spanish, and A Jugar!.

In Immersion Spanish classes, children play games, read books, and watch movies all in Spanish in order to immerse themselves in the language rather than memorizing information.

Native Spanish classes are ideal for kids from Spanish-speaking households who want to broaden their knowledge of the language by mastering grammar and writing.

The "A Jugar!" program is a 20-minute playtime where Immersion Spanish and Native Spanish students come together and learn through interaction and activities in a fun and relaxed environment.

With Spanish becoming more prevalent in the U.S., Otero and Zapatero say they believe being bilingual opens up many professional opportunities in the future.

Little Linguists is located at 1 Heathcote Road in Scarsdale. For more information, call 914-488-4330/4363; e-mail [email protected]; or visit www.littlelinguistsny.com.

Also see: How to Raise a Bilingual Child

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