Spring Observer - News
Crossing Borders teaches foreign languages, cultures
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| The Spanish Immersion kids at Crossing Borders had the chance to experience both Halloween and Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos), a holiday celebrated in Mexico. Children ages 2 to 5 years old enjoyed dressing up as their favorite characters and trick-or-treating in Spanish all on Halloween. |
By KEVIN KOLOIAN
The people at Crossing Borders view fostering of individual growth and understanding for others in business, academic and daily life their life’s work.
It is their goal to not just teach students a new language but the culture that comes with it.
Located in Spring, the group’s method of teaching students a second language uses books like most traditional courses, but it also incorporates art, dance and native cooking lessons.
“Sometimes when kids are told they need to learn a second language they don’t want to because they think it is boring,” said Elvia Taylor, owner and executive director. “From the very start we incorporate things that are interesting to make it fun but educational at the same time.”
Crossing Borders’ 10-person staff is made up of people with diverse experiences ranging from classroom instruction to the creative arts to corporate management and entrepreneurship.
With language classes for kids and adults, through group classes and private lessons, the whole family can get involved.
“A lot of Americans only know English. And nowadays you have to be bilingual to have a really good job or to have more fun in your travels,” Taylor said.
Crossing Borders isn’t limited to just English and Spanish classes. The group’s linguistic expertise extends to French, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic and Dutch. Crossing Borders also offers translations, interpretations and curriculum, among other things.
Students can start as young as the age of 1 year in classes that range from 45 to 90 minutes, all of which are available for semesters lasting six weeks, 12 weeks or a year.
Taylor said no matter the length of program a student signs up for they will be learning right way.
“Part of our technique is to have people have conversations as soon as possible, so even in the first class we already expose them to the language,” Taylor said.
About 20 kids take part in the day-long, one-day-a-week immersion program to truly live the culture. Kids are currently putting a Spanish spin on the Thanksgiving holiday with various crafts projects.
Immersions is a full-on learning experience that can do more than change the way a child talks but the way he feels.
“One of the kids who has been here for a year doesn’t want to speak English anymore; she only wants to speak Spanish,” said Spanish teacher Maria Rodriguez about a pre-kindergarten student.
Crossing Borders also works well in schools, primarily because its activities can be combined in countless ways to best suit the needs of students. The group offers after-school programs, special events, dance classes and more. All school programs can be adopted for teens or for pre-schoolers.
After-school programs include salsa, hip-hop, theater, Spanish, French, art and creative writing. Each class is designed to get kids and teens moving, singing, dancing, cooking, making art and speaking a new language.
While kids are in school, parents can attend classes that are designed to target specific language needs and to advance adult students from one level to the next while movement classes like yoga, zuma and Latin dance focus and relax them.
There are even lessons for pre-kindergarten aged children in the area of performing and visual arts. The most popular programs for pre-K students are Salsa for Tots, Little Hands art class and Discovering Dance, which introduces young dancers to ballet, modern dance, jazz and Latin dance.
“When I come home she speaks Spanish and I reinforce that by speaking to her,” said Herman Dominguez, whose 4-year-old daughter Madison is learning Spanish. “I believe in the educational theory that says at a very young age, kids can learn two to three different languages.”
crossing borders
For more information, call 281-465-0899 or go to www.crossingbordersgroup.com.
It is their goal to not just teach students a new language but the culture that comes with it.
Located in Spring, the group’s method of teaching students a second language uses books like most traditional courses, but it also incorporates art, dance and native cooking lessons.
“Sometimes when kids are told they need to learn a second language they don’t want to because they think it is boring,” said Elvia Taylor, owner and executive director. “From the very start we incorporate things that are interesting to make it fun but educational at the same time.”
Crossing Borders’ 10-person staff is made up of people with diverse experiences ranging from classroom instruction to the creative arts to corporate management and entrepreneurship.
With language classes for kids and adults, through group classes and private lessons, the whole family can get involved.
“A lot of Americans only know English. And nowadays you have to be bilingual to have a really good job or to have more fun in your travels,” Taylor said.
Crossing Borders isn’t limited to just English and Spanish classes. The group’s linguistic expertise extends to French, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic and Dutch. Crossing Borders also offers translations, interpretations and curriculum, among other things.
Students can start as young as the age of 1 year in classes that range from 45 to 90 minutes, all of which are available for semesters lasting six weeks, 12 weeks or a year.
Taylor said no matter the length of program a student signs up for they will be learning right way.
“Part of our technique is to have people have conversations as soon as possible, so even in the first class we already expose them to the language,” Taylor said.
About 20 kids take part in the day-long, one-day-a-week immersion program to truly live the culture. Kids are currently putting a Spanish spin on the Thanksgiving holiday with various crafts projects.
Immersions is a full-on learning experience that can do more than change the way a child talks but the way he feels.
“One of the kids who has been here for a year doesn’t want to speak English anymore; she only wants to speak Spanish,” said Spanish teacher Maria Rodriguez about a pre-kindergarten student.
Crossing Borders also works well in schools, primarily because its activities can be combined in countless ways to best suit the needs of students. The group offers after-school programs, special events, dance classes and more. All school programs can be adopted for teens or for pre-schoolers.
After-school programs include salsa, hip-hop, theater, Spanish, French, art and creative writing. Each class is designed to get kids and teens moving, singing, dancing, cooking, making art and speaking a new language.
While kids are in school, parents can attend classes that are designed to target specific language needs and to advance adult students from one level to the next while movement classes like yoga, zuma and Latin dance focus and relax them.
There are even lessons for pre-kindergarten aged children in the area of performing and visual arts. The most popular programs for pre-K students are Salsa for Tots, Little Hands art class and Discovering Dance, which introduces young dancers to ballet, modern dance, jazz and Latin dance.
“When I come home she speaks Spanish and I reinforce that by speaking to her,” said Herman Dominguez, whose 4-year-old daughter Madison is learning Spanish. “I believe in the educational theory that says at a very young age, kids can learn two to three different languages.”
crossing borders
For more information, call 281-465-0899 or go to www.crossingbordersgroup.com.
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