Our distinguished enrichment program offers a broad range of extracurricular options. Our objective is to offer our ethnically diverse and rich community language learning opportunities with a balanced theory and practice curriculum as we are as mindful of your child's social and emotional needs as his academic growth.
We strongly believe that by integrating a play-based philosophy into the curriculum and engaging students in ways that motivated them are key to make their learning experience a success. We use "technology-infused and old fashion-infused instructions" to engage our students in ways that they can relate to.
To achieve that goal, the foreign languages are associated to the universal language of art. Instruction of artistic skills is performed not only in English but also in Spanish and/or French. We also use power point presentations and computer-based programs to supplement and/or provide practice of the target language. We do offer differentiated learning for our students so they can learn at their own pace and be challenged according to their existing level. We strongly believe that new languages can broaden the horizons and offer more opportunities in the future as the students discover their own linguistic and cultural heritage or chose to open doors to new languages and cultures.
At Bay Language Academy, we remind ourselves daily that the ultimate purpose of language learning is communication. Conjugation, grammar and vocabulary acquisition are reinforced within themes to reach this ultimate goal.
Through TPRS, songs and role play dialogues, we design language lessons in order to also expose our students to a diverse range of accents.
Our approach fits within a modern-day look at language learning but also incorporate older approaches that showed to be very efficient in term of reaching a good level of proficiency. Every student learn at their own pace and have different abilities, so working with learners around those criteria, makes the path of proficiency more enjoyable.
A growing number of studies shows that the most effective and engaging way to teach children a new language is to surround them with emotional, tactile (especially for the kinesthetic learners), experiential and acoustic inputs. Therefore, we aim to provide children with an environment in which they will experience language learning in a meaningful, real- life context.
Our curricula includes but are not restricted to: (a) Grammar and sentence structures; (b) Conversation skills through role-play; (c) Language history; (d) Conjugation; (e) Vocabulary acquisition developed through games and interactive plays in order to memorize vocabulary; (f) phonetic exercises; (g) reading and comprehension through TPRS; (h) Listening and understanding through videos (MP4), sound tracks and songs (MP3). The children study specific Spanish speaking countries over the course of the year and learn different aspects of the culture.
Our philosophy is to adapt a set of classroom practices rather than one and only teaching method with the goal to link classroom language learning with language activities outside the classroom and to expose our students to native accents, regional vocabulary and culture differences.
Our students have the opportunities to learn languages through acquisition and immersion, through action, contemplation, reflection and emotional engagement.
We aim to provide proficiency and fluency in French, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, English as a Second Language (ESL) as well as Creative Writing & Comprehension, SAT and AP preparation. Chinese calligraphy, drawing and painting classes are some of our classes as well.
Bay Language Academy learning is designed around a carefully designed curriculum. Focusing on the specific needs of students and their parents, the classes are offered once, twice or three times weekly after school in 75 to 150-minute sessions. Parents are informed after each class of what was covered and what is expected from the young students for the next session. By keeping the parents informed and by creating a studious yet fun environment, where students are engaged and motivated, we have been able as a team, to accomplish amazing results that were beyond our expectations, as instructors and parents. Students are engaged in role play, book and video learning, story telling and art workshops. Each class is tailored to the unique needs of the students in the class and will therefore vary depending on the dynamic of each particular group. Our textbooks and pedagogical materials have been carefully selected for their relevance to our student's needs. An extensive library of additional cultural and linguistic learning material are used by our instructors. For those who are interested in international recognition, tailored courses are available on weekdays and weekends for Certification Preparation such as DELF for French or DELE for Spanish. Classes are designed around the FSI language scale .
So whether you want to communicate with colleagues or just want to be involved in our rich and diverse community in a more effective manner or even plan to learn a language for your next vacation (travel-specific classes), we will try our best to accommodate your language needs. We offer regularly-scheduled classes for all levels over a 10-months period for young students and over a 10-weeks period for adult students who usually renew their classes over the course of the year. Classes for professionals are designed around the specialized language needs in the legal, medical or real estate fields.
We are aware that everyone has different educational needs, so it’s important for us to talk/meet individually with each and every student to assess them and discuss their expectations so we can find a good fit.
Our foreign language program is implemented within a cultural context, so by providing an in-depth, linguistic and cultural instruction, we create a unique blend of stimulating environment and dynamic learning experience. We encourage students to be enriched by new cultures and to discover hidden opportunities. Students of all age (preschool to retirees) come to learn—or enhance existing skills in different languages.
TESTIMONIALS
We really appreciate all the incredible work you have all done with Logan and Grayson over the past years !
Thank you for all the years of wonderful support and education.
Bonjour Madame Essia,
Today I will be backpacking while French class is going so I won't be able to make it to class today. (Fritz won't either). Thank you so much for being an excellent teacher throughout COVID and I will miss having French classes every day during the summer.- Merci beaucoup! Thanks for the nice note, I am so glad to learn that Tibby is doing well in the French class as I think language is truly important to help expand our life, giving us more opportunity to connect with more people and gain more perspective, to make us more open minded and connected.Thank you for giving your heart to teach those students!
- Please thank Ms. Gracie for all of the amazing work, lessons, and support she has provided me so far. She has impacted my learning experience in such a positive way and I am extremely grateful.I wish you both all the best, and thank you again for everything!
I liked the Tuesday class and I felt it was a slightly better pace for me. I am trying to find my rhythm with an at home practice still and so a slower pace is best for me right now. I can not thank you ladies enough for listening to my concerns and being so supportive. I felt understood and cared for and I really appreciate that form you both and look forward to continuing my lessons.
Thank you for your extraordinary leadership and support of the students during this challenging time. I really applaud you and your teachers' dedication in keeping the classes going so consistently during this prolonged shelter in place period.
Hello. Just a quick note to say that Selig is enjoying the classes so far. They are engaging and move quickly. It makes us hopeful of success. Thank you very much l! Catherine G
Loving French. Yes, to fall. Remote class works great. My son got up this morning (on a Saturday) to attend French. He wanted to read and answer more questions in French. So sweet. Love the Monday through Friday daily schedule. Keeps us all on track and regular.
Thank you for a great opportunity.- I want you to know that both of my children love their French classes.I hope that you are able to offer this format over the summer. I would very much like it. Same for the fall next year as I believe the schools are going to be on split schedules. Even if you need to change the time of day....the daily 30-min with homework works great from our perspective.
- Thank you for all of your efforts developing the new protocols that are required for the upcoming school year. I know it has been a tremendously difficult undertaking for you and the teachers.Nicole and I would still like to have the Kids attend the Bay Language Academy next year. We are nervous about the in person classes, as additional classes and students means additional risk of contracting COVID. I imagine that many parents are in a similar mindset. However, we felt that the distance learning was very effective for the kids, particularly after you switched to the 5-day per week, 30-minute per session format.We are most interested in the remote learning options that will be available to the kids next year.
I want to thank you and let you know that Alaia is loving Bay Language Academy Camp. She had really missed interaction with kids and teachers. She is just loving it. She absolutely loves art, and comes home so excited. I hope she has been well behaved and a good listener.
You have a wonderful language program and aftercare set up. We are really excited for our daughter to participate in your programs.
J'ai été accepté, Mme Essia ! J'ai rejoint la Sorbonne dans le cours de lettres, j’ai été accepté en deux, mais je vais choisir Lettres Classiques ! Rien de tout n'aurait été possible sans votre aide pour le DELF! Merci beaucoup beaucoup !!
I will highly recommend your Language Academy to anyone!
We appreciate the foundation you laid for her language skills. Sincerely
Thanks as always for your help and the great learning experience!
Warmly,Sorry for the delay. The courses are great!
We have looked at several after school programs and really feel he would do best with you. You've created an amazing space to learn and grow.
Thank you so much for patiently working with this my son. I wish you and the Bay Language Academy all the best and hope that your programs continue to thrive.
Thank you for accepting my kids into your wonderful program, and showing them a lot of personal love and care. When we come back from Taiwan in 2 years, I want to enroll them back in your program so that they can keep up their Mandarin! Thank you!
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to every staff at Bay Language Academy for the love and support you all have given my boys.Thank you.
Thank you for your kindness, making the adjustment, and reaching out. I think what you all do there is amazing.
So grateful i still have you !! And so happy to see you again tomorrow she was sad to leave today ...
Thank you for allWe've had a wonderful experience so far, and look forward to being back the rest of the week, and then during the year for TK. Thank you!
It was truly a pleasure to meet you and spend time talking with you. Reya and I continued to discuss your kindness and welcoming energy: we really look forward to being part of the community you have created at Bay Language Academy.
Je me suis préparé pour l'AP dans ma classe de français, et j'ai de bonnes notes pour mes exercices d'AP (vous m'avez aidé pendant l'été!)
I am very happy with the progress the kids are making. Thank you.
We very much have enjoyed the Korean class and really like the teacher !
You simply have an awesome program!