FAQ
General Questions
- What makes Lango different from other language programs?
- Lango does a number of things differently from other programs that make our classes especially strong. First, we select and train our teachers through a rigorous model that's informed by Intrax Cultural Exchange's 30 years of experience in international education. Additionally, because we don't operate our own centers, we can pass along cost savings to our students' families through low prices, while offering our classes in various convenient locations. Finally, we have invested heavily to develop a unique, proprietary curriculum that kids and parents love.
close - There are so many activities I can involve my child in. Why language instruction?
- Language instruction is a special kind of children's activity because the benefits extend far beyond the obvious results. Knowing a second (or third!) language is becoming vitally important in today's increasingly global economy and culture. Beyond the obvious practical benefits, though, learning a language at an early age has been shown to have a secondary cognitive benefit. In simple terms, learning a second language is like exercise for the mind, and kids who do so tend to do better in other subjects, including math and English, and even score higher on standardized tests.
close - My child is very young and barely speaks any English. Does it really make sense for him to try to learn a new language at this age?
- Definitely! In fact, the best time to begin learning a second language is when a child is learning his first. From birth through about age 8, a "learning window" is open that allows kids to learn a language naturally and easily. The younger the learner, the more likely he is to acquire the language with an authentic accent and to retain vocabulary and grammatical patterns over time.
close - Is your curriculum based on a certain theory of instruction?
- Is your curriculum based on a certain theory of instruction?
Our curriculum draws on various approaches to teaching languages. These include Total Physical Response and Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Taken in combination, these methods suggest that kids learn best when their entire person is involved - not just listening and speaking, but moving, singing, dancing, playing, feeling, creating and solving problems as well.
close - I don't speak Spanish. How can I reinforce my child's learning at home?
- When it comes to learning a language, the more exposure the better. That's why we provide our students' families with simple ideas for reinforcement that any parent can implement at home. These include use of the instructional CD Habla Blah Blah, which we distribute to all of our families, as well as recommendations for books, DVDs and other CDs that we've used with our own children and found to be particularly effective.
close - My child is three years old. Should I bring her to your tot-and-parent class, or to the preschool class?
- Our unspoken motto at Lango is "let the parent decide." Some three year-olds respond better to the less structured format of our tot-and-parent classes, while others are ready for the simple art activities and other more structured elements of our preschool classes. We invite you to try both formats with your child and to decide for yourself. (We won't charge you for either trial class!)
close - When I brought my tot to a trial class, she ran around the room most of the time. How can she learn if she's not sitting and listening to the teacher?
- Young children learn language best when they choose their approach to learning, discovering the new sounds and patterns on their own. At Lango, we encourage our tots to try specific modes of instruction, but also make sure that the learning follows them should they decide on a different activity. We find that all of our kids begin to respond to and speak in their new language, regardless of whether they typically spend class sitting and listening or running and jumping.
close - Do you assign homework?
- While we don't assign homework, even to our students in our after-school elementary classes, we do provide a wealth of ideas and resources for reinforcing instruction at home.
close - Isn't it cheaper and just as effective to teach my child a new language with DVDs, music or books?
- While any kind of exposure can help a child learn a language, face-to-face instruction is by far the most effective method, and should serve as the basis for instruction. Learning a language is a dynamic process, and children (and adults) learn best when they can watch a speaker's mouth, see her expressions and movements and then mimic all aspects of communication. Meanwhile, face-to-face instruction enables the teacher to respond to the learner; Lango teachers are great at picking out which parts of the learning experience work best for your child!
close - Can I enroll in a Lango class midway through a session?
- Definitely. We've structured our curriculum in "spiraling" fashion, so that even when new material is introduced, earlier material is continually reinforced. This makes it possible for students to begin at any time. Lango will pro-rate your session tuition accordingly.
close - How often should I bring my child to Lango classes?
- We encourage you to bring your child to class twice a week. Our curriculum introduces new material early in a week, and then reinforces it later in the week through a different set of activities, so that students can attend just once per week if necessary. However, students who attend twice gain a greater depth of understanding and typically progress more quickly.
close - There are no Lango classes nearby, but I'd like to attend. Will you be in my community soon?
- We plan to be! We hope to bring language instruction to kids all over the country. If there are no Lango classes near your home, keep an eye on our website - or contact us and let us know you'd like to see us there!
close - Are your teachers native speakers?
- All of our teachers are native speakers or bilingual. Those who did not grow up in a Spanish-speaking country have been tested by native speakers to ensure that their accent, grammar and vocabulary are authentic.
close - I'd be interested in bringing Lango to my community. Do you license or franchise your program?
- Today Lango is operated entirely by Intrax Cultural Exchange in and around the San Francisco Bay Area. However, we believe that Lango could present an exciting small-business opportunity for motivated individuals who have a passion for teaching new languages to children, and we intend to offer Lango as a licensing opportunity in the future.
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