HWIS School Director Says Starting Mandarin Early Gives Kids an Edge
May 10, 2015
Nine Features of High-Quality Language Immersion Programs
May 31, 2017
By Savannah Cox
NEW YORK CITY — Experts say that the earlier you learn a second language, the better — and there are plenty of language immersion camps in the city that will help get that process started.
"We often make the mistake of assuming that a two- or three-year-old child just doesn't have the capacity to know a second language," Juguemos a Cantar Head Teacher Jenny Pellot told DNAinfo New York.
"But not only can these kids know [it], they can learn [another language] at almost quadruple the rate of a grownup because they don't have other language schemes formed."
The non-traditional atmosphere of an immersive camp only encourages that learning, which can provide benefits throughout life, experts added.
"[Immersive learning] makes the language alive and natural through projects, field trips and the arts," HudsonWay Immersion School Director Elizabeth Willaum said. "It's so much more organic than teaching as a foreign language...you're learning culture."
With that in mind, DNAinfo New York has rounded up a list of city summer camps where your child can explore the multitude of languages and cultures that the world has to offer:
FRENCH
• La Petite Ecole
Where: 159 W. 82nd St., Upper East Side
When: June 20 to July 18
Days and hours: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Ages: 2.5 to 5
Activities: Trips to Central Park, water games; arts and crafts, cooking, singing and dancing, field trips to museums
Pricing: $525/week
Registration deadline: Early registration by May 1, late registration from May 1 to June 20
• Bonjour New York
Where: P.S. 58, 330 Smith St., Carroll Gardens and P.S. 84, 32 W. 92nd St., Upper West Side
When: July 5 to Sept. 2
Days and hours: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and half-days from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ages: 3.5 to 11
Activities: Robotics, arts and crafts, origami, dance, gymnastics, theater, swimming, circus, magic and clown workshops; local trips and films in French
Pricing: $575/week (full) and $495/week (half); discounts offered if booked for multiple weeks
Registration deadline: May 31
• International School of Brooklyn
Where: 477 Court St., Cobble Hill
When: July 5 to Aug. 12
Days and hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (full day) and 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (half day, pre-K only)
Ages: Grades pre-k to 4
Activities: Arts and crafts, music, story-time, cooking, sports and drama
Pricing: $500/week (full day) and $325/week (half day)
Registration deadline: Early registration ends on March 15
SPANISH
• Lango
Where: 93 3rd Ave., Gowanus
When: June 27 to Aug. 19
Days and hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (full day) and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (half day)
Ages: 2 to 7
Activities: Music; dance; crafts, singing, art, cultural excursions to Spanish-speaking parts of town
Pricing: $450/week (full); $275/week (half)
Registration deadline: May 31, late registration after June 1
• Juegemos a Cantar
Where: 299 N. 7th St., Williamsburg; 463 6th Ave., South Slope; 47 Sterling Pl., North Slope
When: June 20 to Sept. 4 (2-4 year olds), July 11 to Sept. 4 (463 6th Ave.) and July 11 to 29 (299 N. 7th St.)
Days and hours: 1, 2, 3 or 5 days per week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (full day) and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (half day)
Ages: 2 to 8
Activities: Yoga, soccer, capoeira, field trips and learning about Spanish-speaking countries
Pricing: $220-$4,210 depending on hours per day, days per week and how many weeks attending
Registration deadline: June 1
• International School of Brooklyn
Where: 477 Court St., Cobble Hill
When: July 5 to Aug. 12
Days and hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (full day) and 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (half day, pre-k only)
Ages: Grades pre-k to 4
Activities: Arts and crafts, music, story-time, cooking, sports and drama
Pricing: $500/week (full day), $325/week (half day)
Registration deadline: Early registration ends on March 15
MANDARIN
• Lango
Where: 93 3rd Ave., Gowanus
When: June 27 to Aug. 26
Days and hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (full day) and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (half day)
Ages: 2 to 8
Activities: Music, dance, crafts, singing, art, cultural excursions to Spanish-speaking parts of town
Pricing: $450/week (full), $275/week (half)
Registration deadline: May 31, late registration after June 1
• Planet Han
Where: 401 West End Ave., Upper West Side; 1556 Third Ave., Upper East Side
When: June 8 to Aug. 12; June 13 to Aug. 12
Days and hours: Every Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m., 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Monday to Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Ages: Babies to 12+
Activities: Designing and writing Chinese books, cooking, art, karate and computer time
Pricing: $197 to $1,800, depending on schedule chosen and age
Registration deadline: First come, first served
• Hudson Way Immersion School
Where: 175 Riverside Blvd., Upper West Side
When: June 27 to Aug. 5
Days and hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (full day) and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (half day)
Ages: 2.5 to 12
Activities: Art, geography, cooking, music, dance, outdoor play
Pricing: $880 (half-day, two week session), $1,480 (full-day, two week session)
Registration deadline: Early bird deadline April 1
OTHER LANGUAGES
• Hebrew Dual Language Camp
Where: 3495 Nostrand Ave., Kings Bay
When: June 29 to Aug. 19
Days and hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Ages: Grades pre-k to 10
Activities: Field trips, games, dancing, cooking, theater, sports, arts and crafts, storytelling
Pricing: $475 to $3,120 depending on grade level and number of weeks attending
Registration deadline: Register by June 1 and receive $50 off
• Collina Italiana
Where: 1556 Third Ave., Upper East Side
When: June 6 to July 15 and Aug. 8 to Sept. 2
Days and hours: Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 3 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 3 p.m., Tuesday or Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 3 p.m.
Ages: 3 to 7
Activities: Music, theater, museum trips and art
Pricing: $190 to $600 per week depending on schedule chosen
Registration deadline: Second week of March
RELATED
• 9 Science Summer Camps for Your Child in New York City
• 9 Visual and Performing Art Summer Camps in New York City
• 10 Sports Camps in New York City to Keep Your Kid Moving This Summer
NEW YORK CITY — Experts say that the earlier you learn a second language, the better — and there are plenty of language immersion camps in the city that will help get that process started.
"We often make the mistake of assuming that a two- or three-year-old child just doesn't have the capacity to know a second language," Juguemos a Cantar Head Teacher Jenny Pellot told DNAinfo New York.
"But not only can these kids know [it], they can learn [another language] at almost quadruple the rate of a grownup because they don't have other language schemes formed."
The non-traditional atmosphere of an immersive camp only encourages that learning, which can provide benefits throughout life, experts added.
"[Immersive learning] makes the language alive and natural through projects, field trips and the arts," HudsonWay Immersion School Director Elizabeth Willaum said. "It's so much more organic than teaching as a foreign language...you're learning culture."
With that in mind, DNAinfo New York has rounded up a list of city summer camps where your child can explore the multitude of languages and cultures that the world has to offer:
FRENCH
• La Petite Ecole
Where: 159 W. 82nd St., Upper East Side
When: June 20 to July 18
Days and hours: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Ages: 2.5 to 5
Activities: Trips to Central Park, water games; arts and crafts, cooking, singing and dancing, field trips to museums
Pricing: $525/week
Registration deadline: Early registration by May 1, late registration from May 1 to June 20
• Bonjour New York
Where: P.S. 58, 330 Smith St., Carroll Gardens and P.S. 84, 32 W. 92nd St., Upper West Side
When: July 5 to Sept. 2
Days and hours: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and half-days from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ages: 3.5 to 11
Activities: Robotics, arts and crafts, origami, dance, gymnastics, theater, swimming, circus, magic and clown workshops; local trips and films in French
Pricing: $575/week (full) and $495/week (half); discounts offered if booked for multiple weeks
Registration deadline: May 31
• International School of Brooklyn
Where: 477 Court St., Cobble Hill
When: July 5 to Aug. 12
Days and hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (full day) and 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (half day, pre-K only)
Ages: Grades pre-k to 4
Activities: Arts and crafts, music, story-time, cooking, sports and drama
Pricing: $500/week (full day) and $325/week (half day)
Registration deadline: Early registration ends on March 15
SPANISH
• Lango
Where: 93 3rd Ave., Gowanus
When: June 27 to Aug. 19
Days and hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (full day) and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (half day)
Ages: 2 to 7
Activities: Music; dance; crafts, singing, art, cultural excursions to Spanish-speaking parts of town
Pricing: $450/week (full); $275/week (half)
Registration deadline: May 31, late registration after June 1
• Juegemos a Cantar
Where: 299 N. 7th St., Williamsburg; 463 6th Ave., South Slope; 47 Sterling Pl., North Slope
When: June 20 to Sept. 4 (2-4 year olds), July 11 to Sept. 4 (463 6th Ave.) and July 11 to 29 (299 N. 7th St.)
Days and hours: 1, 2, 3 or 5 days per week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (full day) and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (half day)
Ages: 2 to 8
Activities: Yoga, soccer, capoeira, field trips and learning about Spanish-speaking countries
Pricing: $220-$4,210 depending on hours per day, days per week and how many weeks attending
Registration deadline: June 1
• International School of Brooklyn
Where: 477 Court St., Cobble Hill
When: July 5 to Aug. 12
Days and hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (full day) and 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (half day, pre-k only)
Ages: Grades pre-k to 4
Activities: Arts and crafts, music, story-time, cooking, sports and drama
Pricing: $500/week (full day), $325/week (half day)
Registration deadline: Early registration ends on March 15
MANDARIN
• Lango
Where: 93 3rd Ave., Gowanus
When: June 27 to Aug. 26
Days and hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (full day) and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (half day)
Ages: 2 to 8
Activities: Music, dance, crafts, singing, art, cultural excursions to Spanish-speaking parts of town
Pricing: $450/week (full), $275/week (half)
Registration deadline: May 31, late registration after June 1
• Planet Han
Where: 401 West End Ave., Upper West Side; 1556 Third Ave., Upper East Side
When: June 8 to Aug. 12; June 13 to Aug. 12
Days and hours: Every Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m., 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Monday to Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Ages: Babies to 12+
Activities: Designing and writing Chinese books, cooking, art, karate and computer time
Pricing: $197 to $1,800, depending on schedule chosen and age
Registration deadline: First come, first served
• Hudson Way Immersion School
Where: 175 Riverside Blvd., Upper West Side
When: June 27 to Aug. 5
Days and hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (full day) and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (half day)
Ages: 2.5 to 12
Activities: Art, geography, cooking, music, dance, outdoor play
Pricing: $880 (half-day, two week session), $1,480 (full-day, two week session)
Registration deadline: Early bird deadline April 1
OTHER LANGUAGES
• Hebrew Dual Language Camp
Where: 3495 Nostrand Ave., Kings Bay
When: June 29 to Aug. 19
Days and hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Ages: Grades pre-k to 10
Activities: Field trips, games, dancing, cooking, theater, sports, arts and crafts, storytelling
Pricing: $475 to $3,120 depending on grade level and number of weeks attending
Registration deadline: Register by June 1 and receive $50 off
• Collina Italiana
Where: 1556 Third Ave., Upper East Side
When: June 6 to July 15 and Aug. 8 to Sept. 2
Days and hours: Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 3 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 3 p.m., Tuesday or Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 3 p.m.
Ages: 3 to 7
Activities: Music, theater, museum trips and art
Pricing: $190 to $600 per week depending on schedule chosen
Registration deadline: Second week of March
RELATED
• 9 Science Summer Camps for Your Child in New York City
• 9 Visual and Performing Art Summer Camps in New York City
• 10 Sports Camps in New York City to Keep Your Kid Moving This Summer
