Children at Mi Casita Preschool engage in hands-on learning activities to immerse themselves in the Spanish language and culture. (Photo credit: Mi Casita Preschool)
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More and more parents in the Greater Philadelphia Area are turning to language immersion preschools to give their children a boost for future success in a globalized world.
Studies have shown that an early bilingual education has many benefits, including enhancing cognitive development, improving problem-solving skills, and boosting creativity.
It is the brain plasticity of children that makes learning languages so much easier between the ages of 0 and 7 years, researchers say.
Bilingual children can easily switch between languages, a process known as code-switching, according to research from the Cambridge University Press.
Image courtesy of Mi CasitaThey can also communicate with a more diverse group of people, which is important in both personal and professional contexts.
In the traditional American educational system, foreign languages are typically not taught until high school when it is more challenging to absorb and process.
Because of this many parents in the U.S., including the Philadelphia area, are seeking out full language immersion programs for their children at a younger age.
What does full immersion mean?
Full immersion means the teachers conduct all activities and lessons in a foreign language.
In preschool language immersion programs, children engage with the new language through play, stories, music, and daily interactions. Children do not have to speak the language before being enrolled; nor, is it essential for the parents to be fluent in the language.
It is typically a phased learning process. The children pick up nonverbal gestures at first and, over-time, start understanding and using the new language more frequently.
Mi Casita Preschool is a Spanish immersion preschool with locations in Ardmore, Fairmount, Brewerytown, and Spring House. Unlike other programs, Mi Casita Preschool’s 100% Spanish immersion includes native-speaking teachers from diverse countries like Colombia and Spain, who introduce students to unique cultural traditions like Feliz Dia de Reyes, the Feast of the Epiphany which commemorates the visit of the three Magi to Baby Jesus.
Image courtesy of Mi CasitaWhy Spanish immersion?
Mi Casita Preschool recently launched a summer camp and opened two new classrooms because of a high demand for early Spanish immersion programs in the area.
The preschool is also responding to this heightened demand by exploring opportunities to bring Spanish Immersion to even more neighborhoods across the Philadelphia region in the near future.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2019 Spanish was the most common non-English language spoken in American homes.
In a recent interview, Rachel Cohen, Head of Growth at Mi Casita Preschool, explained that because Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages worldwide, parents see bilingualism as a practical skill that can improve their children’s future academic, career and social opportunities.
She added, “Spanish immersion preschools expose children to the richness of Hispanic culture, fostering an appreciation for diversity and broadening their global perspective. Parents value this cultural awareness in an increasingly interconnected world.”
Due to linguistic similarities, she explained, learning Spanish can also make it easier for children to learn other Romance languages like French or Italian in the future.
The Mi Casita experience
What makes the Mi Casita Preschool experience unique?
For Antonia Arias, Admissions Director for Mi Casita Preschool, it is two things.
Firstly, it is 100% Spanish immersion, she said.
“This means both linguistic and cultural immersion. All our teachers are native Spanish speakers from one of the many Spanish-speaking countries in the world, and they bring songs, sayings, and traditions from each of their cultures into the classroom, giving their students an authentic interaction with both language and culture.”
Secondly, she said Mi Casita practices Project Based Learning.
“An example of this type of learning is a monthly theme of: ‘Animal habitats’ which included identifying and creating animal habitats, and a family event at the Elmwood Zoo or ‘How do we create the best peace corner in our classroom to help us identify and calm our emotions?’ where students helped create elements of a space in each classroom for moments of calm to foster a harmonious classroom atmosphere and teachers read books like ‘Todo el mundo cabe aqui’ (Everybody Fits Here) and ‘El libro de los sentimientos’ (The Feelings Book),” she explained.
Mi Casita Preschool students also learn critical thinking, inquiry-based and project-based learning skills, and the ability to learn how to learn through exploration and discovery.
Mi Casita Preschool also uses the Creative Curriculum to uses weekly lesson plans on science, literature, art, math/logic, creativity, and other themes. Teachers also use music and play to inspire authentic learning.
Katie Milnes, a Mi Casita parent, has both her children – a 3-year-old and an almost 1 and a half year old – enrolled in the school at Spring House.
“My husband and I wanted to give our kids something they couldn’t have at home. We only took high school Spanish and don’t speak it fluently,” she explained.
“We love Mi Casita because of how special a place it is. We could see it right away at our first visit. The environment is vibrant, colorful, and very welcoming. Staff members treat our children as their own. It is just a special place.”
Pages of online reviews of Mi Casita Preschool concur with Milnes. The reviews glow about the uniquely loving teachers and vibrant school environment. Many refer to the Mi Casita community as a big “familia,” and the schools throw frequent events for the community, including a Halloween Parade, trips to the Please Touch Museum, and a special celebration for Hispanic Heritage Week.
Mi Casita Preschool now also offers summer camp for grades K through third grade. This summer the program will run between July 7th and August 22 at their Poplar and Spring House locations.
The program will include games in Spanish, daily park visits, songs, arts and crafts, traditional cooking, and special visitors. Each week is a new theme like “Splish Splash Water Fun” or “My Scientific Lab.”
To learn more about Mi Casita’s Spring House location or other locations in the Philadelphia area, click here to request additional information.
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