National Leader of Fun Foreign Language Classes for Kids Opens New Centers and School Programs in Washington D.C. Area!

CHICAGO and WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- One of Chicago's best-kept educational secrets has entered the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.  Language Stars, known for its reputation of excellence, success rates and quality foreign language programs, has opened new centers in Alexandria and Reston, Virginia, as part of a broader strategy to expand into new metropolitan areas and strengthen its position as the national leader in early foreign language education.  

Language Stars currently offers its FunImmersion® foreign language programs at 15 Chicago-area centers, as well as in more than 100 schools in the Chicago metropolitan area, where it has operated for more than 12 years and currently reaches more than 6,000 children each week.  The two new Language Stars centers in the D.C. area are already in session in Reston and Alexandria, Virginia, and enrollment is currently open.

Many parents are aware of the undisputed benefits of early childhood language learning, yet have never had a local option to enroll their children in a program that produces extraordinary results through non-stop fun. Now children in Northern Virginia, already part of a uniquely diverse community, can take advantage of the "window of opportunity" to learn foreign language effortlessly during their critical early years.  

Language Stars' unique FunImmersion® method combines dynamic teaching techniques, engaging activities, and multi-level learning with a commitment to full immersion, and a curriculum aligned with national standards. Native-speaking teachers immerse toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary school students entirely in the target language through a wide variety of games, projects, art, music & movement, treasure hunts, science experiments, magic tricks, and other activities that have been designed to maximize play and learning. With programs in Spanish, French, German, Italian and Mandarin Chinese, children move toward proficiency in a foreign language, build cognitive skills, and have fun at the same time.

"Today's discerning parent seeks an activity that her child will love but that will also provide a benefit," said Leslie Lancry, the Founder and President of Language Stars and Harvard-educated businesswoman whose passion is foreign language. "Language Stars FunImmersion® classes double as exciting, engaging activities as well as a lifetime investment in a child's future.  Our students absorb language like sponges, and they retain their authentic-sounding accents and ability to speak spontaneously into the future."

In addition to parents and families, preschools and elementary schools who are partnering with Language Stars are raving about the effectiveness of their school-based programs.  "Prior to finding Language Stars, we had canceled our elementary language program because we couldn't find the quality we required," said Jenifer Lesan, PTA President of Churchill Road Elementary School in McLean, VA. "Since Language Stars started offering regular weekly classes, we couldn't be more delighted!  We have over 125 students taking Spanish, French or Mandarin Chinese with Language Stars, and we are thrilled with the curriculum and delivery.  The teachers are outstanding, and the students are really making progress."

In Chicago, Language Stars is known for its extraordinary, dynamic, native-speaking teachers and a curriculum developed by the Language Stars team of educators, linguists and early childhood experts.

"Language Stars hand-picks its staff—incredible preschool and elementary teachers from abroad who are excited to impact our mission," said Lancry. "We pick the best teachers from more than 20 countries across the globe, and our young students and their parents are delighted.  We're thrilled to be introducing this talented team to the D.C. area."

"The Language Stars teachers who have worked with my children are absolutely amazing! I have worked in and conducted research in over 100 elementary school classrooms over a period of about 20 years," said Sondra Birch, a Language Stars parent.  "It is without exaggeration that I can tell you that my children's Language Stars teachers are really the best of the best! Their energy level is constant and contagious, their affection for the children is genuine, and their implementation of the curriculum is fantastic."

An abundance of research supports the value of early foreign language education.  "We are seeing the brain as more plastic and ready to create new circuits before than after puberty," says Dr. Patricia Kuhl, Professor at the University of Washington and Co-Director of the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences.  For adults, the process is completely different.  "You won't learn it in the same way," says Kuhl.  "You won't become as good as a native speaker."  

Language Stars describes this unique "window of opportunity" as occurring before the age of 10, when the young brain is inherently flexible and uniquely hard-wired to acquire language naturally.  At these ages, learning a second language is cognitively as easy as learning a first language.  The benefits extend far beyond this age group, as studies have shown that multi-lingual education results in everything from improved math skills and SAT scores to greater cultural sensitivity and even the potential to stave off dementia in later life.

Meanwhile, the company is pleased about its own "window of opportunity" to take a fun, educational, mission-oriented business to a new level by expanding into additional regions of the U.S.  "We're excited about this next new chapter in our company," says Lancry, "and we're absolutely committed to the same focus on fun and quality education that brought us to where we are."

For more information on Language Stars, contact 1-866-55-STARS or visit the website at www.languagestars.com.

SOURCE Language Stars