Why Start Early?
Today, over 500 million people speak Spanish in over 40 countries, from Latin America to Africa to Asia. After Mandarin Chinese, Spanish is the most widely spoken language in the world in terms of global population. And in the United States, Spanish has become our unofficial second language. Spanish is also the language of some of the world's greatest cultural icons such as Picasso, Cervantes, Borges and Gabriel García Márquez. Undoubtedly, children who learn Spanish today have an advantage in American society and in the world.

Studies have shown that children in effective early second language programs demonstrate overall gains on standardized tests of basic skills and derive additional cognitive, social and affective benefits. Children with a second language are also more effective in absorbing, mastering and communicating in international environments. However, in order to learn a language fluently, studies have shown that learning a language from an early age is essential. Younger children are more likely than older children to be fearless at trying out a second language and this makes it easier for them to learn, pronounce accurately and speak without translating. Research has demonstrated that the earlier and the more often you expose children to a foreign language, the more likely they will become truly fluent.

At Isabella & Ferdinand™ Spanish Language Adventures™ our goal is to teach Spanish from an early age in order to give children a critical leg up in learning a foreign language. Children will learn Spanish from teachers who are all native speakers, fine-tuning their ears to what it means to speak the language correctly. In addition, they will learn through cultural materials—songs, plays, poems and games—so that their understanding of Spanish and the Spanish-speaking world is comprehensive. No other Spanish language program in Washington, D.C. offers these advantages.

"In today's competitive academic environment, we're all looking to give our kids that additional edge. Meanwhile, global developments continue to increase the demand for bilingual professionals. Why not prepare our children for this from the get-go?"

From The Bilingual Edge by Drs. Kendall King, PhD and Alison Mackey, PhD, Georgetown University.