Jessica Rojas Flores, staff member at the bilingual day care center, explained, 'We don't always speak Spanish with the children, but we do sing Spanish nursery rhymes. We repeat certain words like chair, table and plate, so they are learning the language playfully. The children are also very empathetic—they speak more slowly to me when I don't understand something right away.'
Carmen Casares Naranjo emphasizes the success of bilingual education: 'Some parents recently told me quite proudly that their child can already count in Spanish, and that they know all of the words of the colors. What makes this bilingual concept so special is that it helps prepare the children for life—for everyday life. Because they need to develop strategies for situations when they might find that they are not being understood.'
Cynthia Malca-Buchholz, deputy director of the center and initiator of the bilingual concept, noted the importance of integrating two languages in education: 'It opens up their worldview, allowing children to appreciate cultural diversity from a young age.'
#bilingual-education #language-learning #cultural-diversity #child-development #early-childhood-education
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