Learning another language has many benefits for children, including improved communication, memory, and critical thinking. Fluency in more than one language can also support higher empathy and emotional awareness. As your child grows, these benefits continue, as correlations link speaking multiple languages with higher college admissions scores, increased academic performance, and a lower risk for developing Alzheimer’s later in life. There are many ways for your child to learn another language in Warrenville, Illinois. From virtual language classes to in-person instruction, here are five language classes to try around Warrenville.

Children’s 2nd Language Academy

Image via Flickr by shixart1985 Licensed CC BY 2.0

The Children’s 2nd Language Academy in Matteson, Illinois opened in March 2003 to provide foreign language instruction to children ages two to six in an advanced preschool program. They also offer language lessons to students ages five to 12 in their after-school program. The staff at 2nd Language Academy is qualified in several languages, including English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese. The director and assistant director are fluent in multiple languages, and the entire staff is fluent in at least two languages.

With hands-on activities, immersive learning experiences, and language exploration through play, the Children’s 2nd Language Academy is a perfect choice to introduce your child to a foreign language. Although the Academy is a 45-mile drive from Warrenville, you can also find e-learning options that provide additional flexibility. The Academy is open Monday through Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and you can schedule a tour with the staff to learn more about the center, language lessons, and additional resources for your child.

Language Adventures

Language Adventures in Arlington Heights, Illinois, provides language classes to students of all ages, including those as young as 12 months old and those attending high school. The center holds programs throughout the school year and in summer, and no matter what age your child is, Language Adventures’ fun, caring team of instructors has a class for them. The Toddler Adventures classes are specially designed for children ages one to three years, where you can learn alongside your toddler as they explore a new language.

Preschool Adventure classes focus on learning through play and group projects, and one-on-one, individualized instruction is also used to support your child’s language development. Elementary classes support students ages five to eight with immersive learning experiences in reading, writing, and interactive language learning. If you have a preteen, middle, or high schooler, Language Adventures has classes available for developing foreign language fluency. All teachers have backgrounds in language, education, or both, and use only the most current educational and developmental research to develop their curriculum and instruction. Students can learn Spanish, French, and Mandarin through Language Adventures.

Language Loop

Language Loop of Chicago is a private language learning center that provides foreign language lessons to students of all ages. They offer a variety of lesson structures to meet your needs, whether you’re seeking initial learning for your children, condensed instruction for practical business or travel application, tutoring, or fluency development. Instructors at Language Loop can make individualized instructional plans to meet your child’s specific language needs. You can choose in-person classes, whether at their office or your location, or online language lessons.

For more one-on-one instruction, the center offers private tutoring sessions for students 12 years and older to develop vocabulary and fluency in reading and writing their second language. Language Loop provides instruction for a large range of languages, including English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Polish, and German. Language Loop provides lessons Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., giving your family flexibility on the weekends.

Spanish Language Center

The Spanish Language Center in Naperville, Illinois, offers both private and group classes for learning the Spanish language. Currently, the center is hosting online learning classes to ensure the health and safety of its students and staff. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of all the benefits Spanish Language Center provides. Enroll your child individually, or create a group with siblings or friends in an online class. The Spanish Language Center also supports learning through personalized and conversational approaches to reading and writing in the Spanish language.

All teachers are bilingual and fluent in both Spanish and English and can provide the support your child needs to learn their new language. If your child has some foundations in the Spanish language, you can also schedule an assessment to determine whether your child can benefit from starting more advanced instruction. If you’re interested in learning along with your child, you can also sign up for adult lessons.

Focus Language School

Focus Language School in Elmhurst is about 20 miles from Warrenville and offers language lessons for a range of languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, Mandarin, Hindi, and Punjabi. You and your child can choose an intensive instructional approach, where students are immersed right away into their foreign language and learn through conversation and natural application of the language.

Slower-paced lessons are also available, where your child can learn at their own pace and receive guided support in their second language. All Focus Language School programs are available as private classes and small group sessions. Or, you can choose to enroll your child in an online program for more flexibility. With beginning, intermediate, and advanced programs available, your child will have the building blocks they need to master a foreign language.

From Spanish to Mandarin, these language learning opportunities provide families and students with the foundations they need to learn a new language. Many of these centers also allow parents to learn alongside their children, which can motivate and support your child’s development as you learn a new language. How did you find our list of language learning classes? If you’ve recently attended a class or language school with your child and would like to recommend it, please get in touch with us at Crème de la Crème and share your experience. We’ll be sure to update our list.