Today's world is rapidly evolving. Today's realities are such that "Apex Company" could have its headquarters in Frankfurt, while its manufacturing facilities are in South America, its design and engineering bases are in Beijing, but its control, distribution and marketing centers are in New York--with satellite companies around the globe!
Tomorrow's world--the future world of our children--is becoming faster, with exponential changes in technology, in communications, with rapid-fire linguistic and cultural exchanges that 50 years ago were largely unheardof. Such rapid, cross cultural collaboration will become more and more commonplace. The employer of tomorrow will be hiring workers who are problem solvers (critical thinkers) who can also collaborate respectfully and efficiently with people from varying backgrounds, all the while resolving issues resourcefully and creatively with advanced technologies.
Learning and acquiring a second--and even third--language will likely become more commonplace for young students here in America, as it is already for young learners in most of Europe and the Far East. Studies have shown that learning another language helps students build increased awareness of structures and vocabulary of their first language, while also heightening cultural sensitivities, with the "value-added" benefit of improving a student's critical thinking skills. Students develop better listening and speaking skills. Learning content through a second language has been shown effective for students of all backgrounds and abilities.
Studies have also shown that the most opportune ages to acquire another language begin right from birth, when students can acquire a second or third language at a level like that of a native speaker, an ability that begins to decline or recede, in most cases by age 13. Cognitively, linguistically, and socially, elementary age children have the best opportunities to acquire other languages to high levels of proficiency, with no loss to their proficiency in English--if we first allow them to do so, and then continuously guide and support them.
Teachers at the Isaac Newton International Academy will teach the California State Standards while utilizing the highly successful and well-researched Spanish-English 90:10 Dual Language Immersion model of instruction across subjects.
Please view, for further information, the slideshow presentation on the 90:10 Model of Dual Language Instruction by Dr Kathryn Lindholm-Leary, a renowned professor of Child and Adolescent Development and a Board Member of the Isaac Newton International Academy.
Other Modern World Languages: Beginning in third grade, students will have the option of learning Mandarin Chinese twice weekly for approximately 40 minutes each session. China is one of the oldest, developed cultures in the world, and today, a worldwide leader in technology development. China is the number one trading partner of the United States.
Other modern languages will be made available.
Isaac Newton International Academy
