Class Information:
Hola La Classes are offered through Scheduled/Designated Classes and through Schools/Daycare Centers.
Fall 2009 Session: Hola Autumn!
In Hola La’s fall session, children will be exploring fall themes with animals we find in our neighborhoods during this beautiful time of year. We will go apple picking, visit a pumpkin patch and go for a fall hike! We will also be incorporating colors and basic fall vocabulary. As always, our classes will be filled with stories, songs, adventure walks, puppet shows, and games. We hope you and your little ones will join us for more fun adventures this fall!
Designated Classes:
Hola La brings its program to various towns in NY & MA (please see MA schedule, or NY Schedule for a list of towns and class times), and all are welcome!
Daycare/Preschool/Before & After-school Programs:
Hola La caters to a growing list of daycare centers, preschools and before and after-school program and to their curriculum, age group and session/class length needs. As parents are increasingly seeking programs which support early 2nd or 3rd language learning, we are happy to bring Hola La to those institutions. If you are a parent interested in speaking with your child's school or daycare about this, or if you represent a school or daycare, please feel free to contact us directly and we will make an introduction. Free demonstrations of Hola La are always available for interested organizations.
Hola La Classes
Amiguitos (Little Friends) 1 - 2.5 years
In this age group, much emphasis is placed on theme-related music and movement. Children and their parent/caregiver will be singing, dancing and playing instruments to developmentally-appropriate (and many familiar!) songs in Spanish. They will also enjoy story-time, and the use of puppets to accompany them on their adventures through the farm, the jungle or whatever theme we are exploring! Children will also have the chance to do occasional theme-related crafts.
Amigos (Friends) 2.5 - 5 years
In this age group, children will explore the current theme through structured classes that involve songs, puppet shows, stories, music, and imaginative adventures in Spanish. Children will also engage in additional activities, including "Calendar Time" and age-appropriate games. They will also have the opportunity to do an occasional theme-related craft.
Hermanos y Amigos (Siblings and Friends) 1 - 4 years
This class will include a combination of components from all Hola La classes to meet the needs of children ages 1-4 years. 5-year-old siblings and friends are welcome in this class. Siblings and friends (non-siblings!) will have fun engaging in and learning Spanish together.
Amigos Grandes (Big Friends) 4 - 7 years or 5 - 8 years
In this age group, using the current theme, children will engage in Spanish through age-appropriate songs, stories, puppet shows, music, and imaginative adventures. In addition to "Calendar Time" and age-appropriate games, more time will be dedicated to role plays and interactive activities with the children. As well, new topics will be introduced within the overarching theme of the session. Children will also have the opportunity to do an occasional theme-related craft.
Hola La Familias (Families) Families with children ages 1 - 5 years
Hola La families can learn Spanish together! The curriculum will be similar to our Siblings and Friends class, with greater emphasis placed on "family participation"! We hope to offer other family classes in the future to incorporate older children as well.
Hola La Themes and Curriculum
Hola La runs 3-4 theme-based sessions per year:
Animals of the Farm/Animales de la granja
Animals of the Jungle/Animales de la selva
Creatures of the Sea/Criaturas del mar
Animals of the Neighborhood/Animales del barrio
Within these themes, Hola La continuously infuses new content with old, maximizing the benefits of repetition and routine, but keeping the curriculum fresh for our little learners and their parents/caregivers!
In addition, within each session and with the help of our animal friends, we incorporate any of the following, in an age-appropriate manner: colors, numbers, families, things we do around the house, seasons, culture, calendar concepts, transportation, sports, outdoor activities, trips to the beach, and many more. Our goal is to provide as much practical Spanish as possible, allowing for ease of reinforcement outside of the classroom!
Music, Puppets, Stories, Games/Adventures
Hola La uses a "spiraled thematic approach" to teaching, and immerse children in the Spanish language, incorporating music, movement, imagination, stories and games ~ much the same way that they learn their native language!
MUSIC:
A combination of songs written by Hola La, as well as those of popular Latin artists, are used during classes. Various instruments are introduced so that children can have fun learning the vocabulary associated with playing them, and can play along until they can learn 1, 2 or all of the lyrics!
PUPPET SHOWS:
Each class includes a puppet show written by Hola La, and emphasizes the "animal of the day" as well as previous animals learned. Puppet shows are short and fun. For our Amiguitos class, puppet shows are shortened and children interact with puppets in front of the theater instead of our traditional "show".
STORIES:
Storytime is a favorite in Hola La's classes. Many of the stories read are familiar to the children, and this helps them to follow along and learn in Spanish what they may already know in English. Stories are interactive and age-appropriate.
GAMES:
Games are centered around the animal of the day, and usually include taking the children on various "adventures" (a "swim in the sea", a "walk through the jungle", etc.). The games are great reinforcement of vocabulary and the kids love to use their imagination! For our Amigos Grandes, we incorporate more advanced games in Spanish, such as "Simon Says".
Parachutes, tunnels, balls and/or hula hoops are also used throughout each session!
Class Information
Session Length and Class Duration
In response to many of our Hola La families, most designated class sessions now run for 10 weeks, to minimize the gaps between sessions. All designated classes are 45 minutes in length.
Minimum/Maximum Number of Students per Class
Our designated classes run with a minimum of 8 students and a maximum of 12.
Parent/Caregiver Participation
Hola La classes are offered for children ages 1-8. Parents and caregivers of children 3 years and younger are required to participate, and parents/caregivers of children all ages are always welcome!
Class Style
Hola La classes are fun, engaging and age-appropriate. We strive to literally keep children on their toes so that as we move from singing a song with instruments to exploring the jungle, to playing more advanced games in Spanish, children learn Spanish secondarily. With a similar class structure used each time, children easily fall into a routine, allowing Hola La's use of repetition and "graduated learning", to be most effective. Hola La's classes and teachers provide a nurturing environment in which to learn Spanish and have fun!
Focus on Oral Language Development
In Hola La classes, there is a focus on developing children's oral receptive (listening) and productive (speaking) language in Spanish. Research shows that the best way for learning a second language is to begin by focusing on oral language receptive and productive language so that once children are in a formal school setting where they are beginning to read and write in Spanish, it will be much easier for them because they will have had the early exposure to Spanish in a fun and playful way.
Use of Spanish
Hola La uses the immersion method of teaching, but not in an intimidating manner. Directions, explanations and translations are provided in English whenever necessary. Research shows that children learn best when they are immersed in a language, and Hola La's use of grand gestures, repetition, routine and practical humor counter the unfamiliarity children may have with Spanish.
Resources for Parents/Caregivers
At the start of each session, each child will receive a packet of information, including song lyrics and commonly used phrases, expressions and vocabulary, and a list of recommended books/cds for that particular session. Please visit our resources page for additional resources for educators, parents/caregivers and children.
We hope you can join us!
See our class schedule for New York
See our class schedule for Massachusetts
