Arabic Immersion Preschool in the DC Metro Area

[Anonymous]

Do any even exist? If not any idea if there are plans to start one? DS is turning two soon and I'd like him to be strong in both languages

[Anonymous]

Oh gosh, if you find one, let me know. I've been searching for years. Language Stars just started an Arabic class, but I have no idea how good they are.

There is also one at an Orthodox Church in Potomac called Abjadiyah. Www.abjadiyah.org I had so much trouble even getting in contact with them, though. Nobody returned phone messages. Email bounced back. them. I missed winter and spring classes. Finally got through. They told me they'd put me on a mailing list for this fall, but I never heard from Their website seems newly updated, so maybe it's better now. If you get through to them and like it, let me know.

[Anonymous]

This is a Muslim school, but I don't know if it's Arabic immersion:

http://www.adamsrha.org/

[Anonymous]

Al Huda in College Park is not complete immersion, but they do teach Arabic.

http://www.alhuda.org/

[Anonymous]

OP here - Thanks for your replies I didn't know about Abdajya. Need to add that one to my list. I heard about about communikids and faz education, and of course AlHuda and the Adams preschool. All seem like good options for now but I was looking for at least three hours of Arabic interaction a day and none of them seem to offer that

[Anonymous]

ask the saudi institute in nova. I think its grade school to high school but they would know.

[Anonymous]

We just signed up for Abjadiyah today. It's not fully immersion, but it seems really good.

[Anonymous]

OP, how would you envision an immersion program for a big group of two year olds?

[Anonymous]

The Palm Tree School in Merrifield might suit your needs.

[Anonymous]

AlefB runs a fantastic enrichment program on the weekends. Two hours and the families get together outside of school. It is really nice. Classes meet on the campus of Marymount University.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, how would you envision an immersion program for a big group of two year olds?

Not OP, but a PP. I wanted immersion, too. I expected the teacher would get on the floor and play with the kids. Dollhouse, trains, cars, farm animals, etc., and just speak in Arabic. Sing songs. Do "Simon Says" in Arabic.

But what I found was flash cards. Maybe some 2 year olds do well with flash cards, but I knew that would do nothing for my kid. So I kept looking...

[Anonymous]

Communkids DC has a great teacher. The teacher is Falls Church I wasn't so crazy about.

[Anonymous]

FAZ in fairfax

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, how would you envision an immersion program for a big group of two year olds?

Not OP, but a PP. I wanted immersion, too. I expected the teacher would get on the floor and play with the kids. Dollhouse, trains, cars, farm animals, etc., and just speak in Arabic. Sing songs. Do "Simon Says" in Arabic.

But what I found was flash cards. Maybe some 2 year olds do well with flash cards, but I knew that would do nothing for my kid. So I kept looking...

OP here - I agree. Yes there should be reading and writing in Arabic but more importantly I think play time should be in Arabic as well as songs etc. I would prefer a dual immersion school as that is how I was raised. Have of the day would be conducted exclusively in Arabic and the other half in English. The schools that teach Arabic here seem to only focus on the Quran. Arabic should be taught as a living language and not one that is just to be used for a religious text.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Palm Tree School in Merrifield might suit your needs.

OP again. Never heard of it! Will look it up. Thanks