Our Mission
At Bilingual Birdies, our mission is to encourage cross-cultural awareness through our foreign language and live music curriculum. We teach Spanish, French, Mandarin, and English (ESL) through live music, movement, dance, puppetry, and theatre-based games. Our curriculum aims to teach ten to fifteen basic vocabulary words and short phrases in each class. We believe there is great value in educating young children on other cultures and languages through social and emotional play. In our classes children have the opportunity to develop a deeper sense of curiosity and compassion for others.
Benefits Delivered To Children
Aside from what will be the most fun part of your week, there are countless important benefits your children will gain by participating in our program! Here are just a few reasons to tap yourself on the shoulder for being such a stellar parent and bringing your children to Bilingual Birdies each week.
Benefits delivered to children
Aside from what will be the most fun part of your week, there are countless important benefits your children will gain by participating in our program! Here are just a few reasons to tap yourself on the shoulder for being such a stellar parent and bringing your children to Bilingual Birdies each week.
Advanced Cognitive Development
When young children learn double vocabularies they are setting the foundation for learning different ways to solve logic problems, multi-task, and understand object permanence. These advanced skills are a part of the brain’s executive function. Just like anything else, when you start to fine-tune a part of the brain at such a young age, it opens the door for greater potential further down the road. Dr. Patricia Kuhl, co-director of the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences at the University of Washington, calls bilingual babies “more cognitively flexible” than monolingual infants. This means that, even from infancy, your child is planting a seed for their future success in other areas of learning, as well as building a knack for the phonetic sounds and intonations of a foreign language.
Additionally, Therese Sullivan Caccavale, president of the National Network for Early Language Learning (NNELL), stands firmly by the fact that studies have shown repeatedly that foreign language learning increases critical thinking skills, creativity, and flexibility of mind in young children. Students who are learning a foreign language out-score their non-foreign language learning peers in the verbal and, surprisingly to some, the math sections of standardized tests.
So, if you want your little one to be not only the cutest kid on the block but also the smartest, come to a Bilingual Birdies class for this important benefit.
Learn more about Dr. Khul’s research in a fantastic 2011 NY Times article entitled “Hearing Bilingual: How Babies Sort Out Language.”
Social & Emotional Advantages
All Bilingual Birdies classes are taught through live music, movement, dance, puppetry, and theatre-based games. There are clear social-emotional benefits that are shown through the use of our music technique. How do you feel when you randomly hear your favorite song in passing? Suddenly time stops, the outer corners of your mouth raise, and a deep sense of joy enters your body. You are more relaxed and excited about life both at the same time. This is the feeling we are going for by incorporating cutting-edge music for children in our classes. Music stimulates the brain, the emotions, and the body simultaneously. And emotions of course, evoke memory. Auditory impulses structure the way we learn to communicate – in speech, movement, and expression, music holds many nutrients for the developing mind of children. Additionally, in every Bilingual Birdies class children get to engage with dynamic puppets. “Myla Birdie” is our mascot and she undeniably puts on a enchanting show for children to witness and participate in at critical moments of the class. Research from author Batool Aghajani Boueini, out of the University of Tehran in 2014, confirms that puppetry in the classroom trains young children on social skills including self-awareness, communication, interpersonal relationships, companionship and empathy to other children. We strive to achieve this in each class while teaching new vocabulary and celebrating diversity!
Our live music curriculum details how children will learn in an entertaining, age appropriate, challenging, and interactive fashion. Each Bilingual Birdies class tells a story and highlights an important theme that relates to the developmental world of children. Throughout that journey, children are invited to learn new words while playing. Our unique methodology for introducing new words includes musical ways to repeat vocabulary using dynamic melodies and fun movements. Since live music is at the core of each class, children also get the opportunity to explore new words and phrases using world rhythms. Our curriculum is structured so that each month the themes change to cover a wide variety of subjects that are important to kids. They learn our system after a few weeks and feel empowered by knowing what comes next and how they may participate. Through these organized methods, children learn to play with a heightened sense of self, responsibility for self and others, and pro-social behavior. Over the last decade of successfully teaching children in schools we’ve seen great progress in school readiness amongst children. We know that 98% of school directors report their children are overall more excited about learning after they’ve experienced a Bilingual Birdies class.
Increased Opportunities in a Global Economy
We are in the midst of some seriously changing times. The other side of the world is now available at your fingertips and the United States is behind in terms of preparing today’s preschoolers to be leaders of tomorrow’s global society. Mandarin speakers are at 1 billion worldwide and it is a priority for the little ones in China to be introduced to English in the early childhood years. Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in the US – practically everyone knows a Spanish speaker who they could become better friends with if they had a better grasp of the language.
If you are ever planning to take a vacation to Paris, you will have a greater chance of connecting with the culture and people if you can effectively communicate in French. French is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations. If you, or someone you know, is looking to learn English, now is the time. It is our duty to offer an opportunity for our children to be prepared for an increasingly globalized job market and be able to contribute to all corners of the world.
Open Minds
Isn’t that what we are all after in the end? We conducted a poll in which we asked 100 parents what they believe is the most important value they could teach their own child. The majority answered along the same lines as a mom named Olivia who said “I want my kids to learn strong values, to respect others, stand up for themselves, and be compassionate.” Our entire goal with the Bilingual Birdies program is to achieve this. Yes, your children will learn new vocabulary, songs, games, and have a brilliantly empowering experience, but throughout this foreign language learning journey, they will also enhance their tolerance, celebrate culture, and learn that “different” can also mean inspiring. By joining the Bilingual Birdies movement you are giving your child the opportunity to grow into a more open-minded adult and encourage others along the way.
