What will my child be doing in a typical Gift of Language class?
In all Gift of Language classes, teachers use over sized flashcards to introduce students to the foreign language. This system has a visual and very effective approach to learning language that engages the student right away. The child is able to use these over sized flash cards and make various sentence strings. Once vocabulary is acquired using these visual aids, the child is encouraged to transfer the knowledge to other flash cards and authentic, real life scenarios. Other images, games and objects are brought into the classrooms to create a real life scenario for the student to be immersed in the target language. Gift of Language even brings in different native speaking educators who are able to engage the child in real life conversations. Being in contact with multiple native speaking educators, gives the child the opportunity to relate to the language and culture outside the classroom making it more enticing for him/her to converse and enjoy the target language and culture.
Teachers keep adding new vocabulary and sentence structures and students read and “speak” and modify the structure of the sentences by moving the flash cards around. Repetition of thes activities develop fluency, proficiency and comfort in the target language.
Gift of Language educators bring in their expertise into the classroom space using art, music, dance and reinforce text book concepts in a real life scenario. To see a sample of the first class that introduces the flashcards, please watch the video below:
Our Program Director: Ms. Farah Hussein
Ms. Farah Hussein established the center in 2007 for her children. Her goal for her children is for them to be multilingual and passionate about different cultures. Ms. Hussein has her undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, she has worked with PriceWaterHouse Coopers in their Financial Advisory Business, she has also founded several successful jewelry businesses. Ms. Hussein has attended the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. She has combined her business and education expertise to present this wonderful opportunity to parents who want their children to become multi-lingual. She currently resides in New Jersey where she conducts the business operations for Gift of Language. She visits California monthly to conduct Gift of Language teacher information sessions. She prides herself in knowing every family in the program and she personally answers the Gift of Language telephone line to stay involved in the day to day operations and quality control for Gift of Language. She strongly believes that parents who enroll their children in foreign language classes are giving "the gift of language" to their children.
Our Regional Director of Teacher Development: Ms. Jacqueline Amaya
Jackie Amaya-Garcia-"Señora Jackie" is a native speaker of French, Spanish as well as English. She has been with Gift of Language since June 2008. She not only has a passion for teaching and sharing her knowledge of languages, but also bringing new and exciting curriculums and programs into the Gift of Language space. And she loves the twinkling eyes of the children when they understand the concepts taught every class in the target language. "They feel they can overcome anything..." Every occasion is a teachable moment and she really makes the most of it in her classes.
From left to right: Joyce Lee, Sandra Viegal, Mercedes Batres (ex GOL teacher) Senora Jackie
From left to right: Senora Jackie,Vanessa Vega, Cendy Iraheta (ex GOL teacher)
Gift of Language participation at the Pasadena Education Expo
Top left to right: Ms. Jackie Chen and Ms. Vanessa Vega
Bottom left to right: Ms. Vega conducting a demo class for the Pasadena Education Expo parents and children. Senora Jackie, preparing the Gift of Language table to share the program with the Expo participants.
A special thanks to Senora Jackie and her team for sharing the program with the Pasadena Education Expo Parents and children.
