Summer Spanish Immersion for Kids (Austin, Center: day care, house, schools)

[COCUE]

We would like our kids to learn Spanish and to start now that they are all very young (6 and under by next summer). I was thinking perhaps a summer program would be a good start where they spend 3 months in an intesive program. I wondering if anyone here can recommend such a program ideally not too far south.

[clarksvillemom]

try Young People Workshop- north and south locations. also escualita del alma

[Austin97]

Magellan has one, we know a ton of people who love it.

Our son went to Olas which he loved but he goes to YPW in northwest hills now for the all day spanish immersion. Olas is in two hour increments.

[COCUE]

Originally Posted by clarksvillemom

try Young People Workshop- north and south locations. also escualita del alma

Thanks Clarksvillemom. Did your kids or any kid you know go to either of these? And if yes, hire is their spanish skills?

Magellan has one, we know a ton of people who love it.

Our son went to Olas which he loved but he goes to YPW in northwest hills now for the all day spanish immersion. Olas is in two hour increments.

Austin97 - thanks, will check these out. How old is your son now and how old was he when he started? Did he just do the summer program or a year round one? How odd his Spanish? Do you have any Spanish speaker at home to practice with him?

[bpvarian]

Originally Posted by COCUE

We would like our kids to learn Spanish and to start now that they are all very young (6 and under by next summer). I was thinking perhaps a summer program would be a good start where they spend 3 months in an intesive program. I wondering if anyone here can recommend such a program ideally not too far south.

My kids went to Preescolarte and had a good experience. I think that they offer camps during the summer.
My kids currently go to Escuelita Del Alma and we like that program as well. But make no mistake, it is basically a day care type situation. And I believe that generally there is a waiting list to get kids in there. Maybe if you are just interested in the summer months they will make an exception as many kids are in and out with vacations. Don't get the older building dissuade you - the staff is really great and the spanish program is strong.
My nieces went to YPW and liked it. We weren't as fond of the location, and when we visited the kids just didn't seem super happy. We got a better feeling from the previous two schools.
Austin Eco Bilingual (formerly Jardin De Ninos) has had lots of problems and I have not heard good things about the owner (Adriana Rodriguez) of that place. I believe that many students/teachers defected to Preescolarte and they did a name change to Austin Eco Bilingual School to try and make it look like they are making changes. Check it out, but be cautious. They have several locations, and I am most familiar with the south location. They have a Confidentiality policy that (and I have not seen it myself) allows them to seek legal action against you if you speak poorly of the school. I was at a former student's house and personally witnessed the owner call this mother and threaten legal action against her because she had told a friend that they didn't have a great experience there. Scary lady.

My neighbors send their kids to Linguistica Spanish Immersion Center and have very positive things to say about it. They send their kids there as a after school program, but they may have more of a full time thing as well, not sure.

Good luck, PM me if you need more info.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by COCUE

Thanks Clarksvillemom. Did your kids or any kid you know go to either of these? And if yes, hire is their spanish skills?


Austin97 - thanks, will check these out. How old is your son now and how old was he when he started? Did he just do the summer program or a year round one? How odd his Spanish? Do you have any Spanish speaker at home to practice with him?

my wife is somewhat fluent. He is 3, and had a mexican nanny for 2 years. He barely speaks english now but he understands spanish (and english). He just started at YPW northwest hills since it just opened.

YPW at 3 is more of a daycare situation, but the older class that my friend has her daughter in is actually actively teaching spanish. My son does come home with art he did with letters and pictures and he knows the spanish words. At YPW they are not quite as organized as st matthews (our other choice for our son) for example.

If you want the best with a real curriculum I think magellan is excellent. We just didnt want to pay that much, son was not potty trained yet, go 5 days a week.

It is fine, my only issue is how often he is getting sick.