How effective is Language Stars?

[Anonymous]

11:54 back: yes, we are rolling in dough and this is how we choose to spend it all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11:54 back: yes, we are rolling in dough and this is how we choose to spend it all

PS 11:54 BACK ( :roll

[Anonymous]

such a waste of money for 4x a week. u r better off with a 1:1 tutor.

[Anonymous]

Agreed.it is also stupid to spend (even if you're rolling) on ineffective program just to make yourself feel like you're doing something. If you have no regards as to how you spend it, why are you even writing in this blog?
Just give it away for stuff that simply does not work...here's a hint--choose a better language investment--1on1 tutor, or weekend trips to China. All in all quote: "you're rolling in dough", no?

[Anonymous]

True. Having a tutor or babysitter would probably help with the immersion at that price.

[Anonymous]

I would recommend French alliance.

[Anonymous]

My 4-year-old daughter has been in the Mandarin Language Stars program at Bethesda since Sept. I do not think we'll continue this summer or next fall. I sat in on the class when they had a parent's week, and was not impressed. I love the idea of it though, that kids will learn naturally through play. But the weekly new vocabulary on different themes can't possibly be remembered unless reinforced. My daughter doesn't complain about going to the class, but I can't say she loves it either. A different teacher might have made the difference.

My goal for her was obviously not fluency, but just familiarity with hearing the sounds of the language so that if she chooses to learn it later in life, it may be easier for her to pick up. She loves hearing Chinese songs in the car, and she is picking up a lot of words and phrases. However, I will probably go back to a weekend Chinese language program in Gaithersburg with her. It was a lot less expensive, and more potential to make friends.

I do think that LS is too expensive. Great first exposure to a language though. I don't really regret this year of classes. I really won't know if it had any positive effects until far into the future.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to chime in and say that we've had an amazing experience at LS. I have two kids (2 & 4 yrs old) and both are taking 4 classes a week. They are learning Spanish, French, and Mandarin. They LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! They sing the songs and speak at home in the languages. They hold Mandarin (or Spanish or French) classes in our playroom almost daily. I speak very little Spanish (2 yrs in highschool) and am just learning French and Mandarin with them. They both know much more than I do. I do my best to supplement with DVDs and music.

Do I expect that they will be fluent soon? No. That's not my goal. I want them to get a grasp of the languages and love it. I've found that one of the most important factors in learning is interest level - and thanks to LS, both my kids have a tremendous interest in languages. This interest has also expanded to geography and learning cultures. I'm learning so much in an effort to answer all of their questions about China and now other countries. The four year old now knows every country that speaks Spanish and French, their capitals, cities and more. He can't wait to visit someday and talk to the locals.....

With regard to costs, it's a matter of priority. Someone else on this thread said if you can afford it, it's worth it, and I completely agree. Also, if you take more classes, you get discounts. We get 40 percent off. They are also very flexible with make-ups - you can make up in any language at any Center and for any child. So, we don't waste any classes.

Someone said you could hire a tutor for the same price. We've had some wonderful tutors too, but it's hard for a tutor to capture their interest the same way. The training at LS is out of this world. We've worked with so many teachers over the last year and they have all been amazing.

I really couldn't say enough wonderful things about this program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:such a waste of money for 4x a week. u r better off with a 1:1 tutor.

We don't think it's a waste of money because, in addition to the language, our daughter is meeting friends and learning how to use very common expressions in class -- What she likes to do, what she looks like, where she lives, saying she's hungry or thirsty, saying please and thank you, and lots of fun vocabulary. We considered a tutor but it is VERY expensive (for Mandarin -- $75 per hour) and she would have been teaching our daughter grammar and writing. We want her to talk and to be comfortable with the language, not to be a robot who repeats verb conjugations. I think there is a maximum of 8 in my daughter's class, but seldom are there more than 3 children (weekday morning).

Plus, 4x/week gets you a 40% discount!

[Anonymous]

I am getting suspicious about this thread. It looks like LS itself is trying to justify the posts. Let the people to express their opinion. There will always be a broad range of opinions no matter ow good or bad you are. So, yes LS is very expensive but is it imperative to your child's speaking a foreign language in the future--no.
I didn't like it as i did not like the approach, and it was not worth he buck, is that simple.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone tried communikids?

[Anonymous]

15:15, why did you not like the approach? Is it beause it is very expensive?

It is imperative for a child to speak a foreign language in the future, quite to the contrary. Your narrow world view is really why our country is falling behind.

[Anonymous]

Although I haven't tried this program myself, I do feel it would be an excellent way to gain fluency. I looked into it for my own kids who are bilingual Spanish and English.

http://www.hopechinese.org/board/Default.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am getting suspicious about this thread. It looks like LS itself is trying to justify the posts. Let the people to express their opinion. There will always be a broad range of opinions no matter ow good or bad you are. So, yes LS is very expensive but is it imperative to your child's speaking a foreign language in the future--no.
I didn't like it as i did not like the approach, and it was not worth he buck, is that simple.

I could just as easily say you're a language tutor or someone for a competing product trolling. It's not going to make them fluent. But it gives them a good base (especially with Mandarin tonations), teaches them to have fun with it, and helps young kids start to acclimate to a classroom environment (my son's in a share). And the people are GREAT. So, I realize you didn't think it was worth your money. Others see things differently.

[Anonymous]

At my daycare providers start to speak Spanish with babies as young as 3 months old and by age of 2-2,5 they speak the language. You need to start it early and keep it going. that will be the best money spend.