Mary Nolden is Marketing and Operations Coordinator at Language Stars

Mary Nolden (June 6, 2011) - One of my favorite parts about working at Language Stars is talking to parents about the benefits of foreign language immersion education. The words come pouring out (as they surely will now) when parents bring up this topic, and I am drawn back to my own experience in a Spanish immersion program.

Working from the Language Stars main office, I have the often difficult task of conveying the benefits of our classes over the phone. I start off with the tangible benefits: increased competitive edge in school and the job market, higher test scores and the ability to quickly acquire subsequent languages. In my own life, this has meant opportunities to work with the Migrant Worker Education program, the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, and, of course, Language Stars. It also led to my study of French and my pursuit of an International Baccalaureate diploma in high school.

A discussion of these benefits is not quite enough to encompass what an immersion education does for a child, so I continue with the benefits to cultural understanding. For me, another language came with another perspective of the world. My teachers were fun, engaging and intelligent, and, like most children, I wanted to be just like them. Their stories and traditions from their home countries were fascinating in their differences from my own life, but they also had enduring similarities to my own. On one level was an understanding of my teachers' cultures and traditions, and on another an awareness of my own culture and how it was perceived by the rest of the world. This led to a desire to travel and to continually educate myself on international events.

All of these benefits are tremendous, but the most important aspect from the point of view of a child was fun! Learning another language was truly fun as a child, and it's exactly what made it so easy. As a first grader, I had none of the nerves or intimidation I would have in walking into a foreign language class today. I didn't worry about sounding silly if I pronounced the words wrong, nor did I dread memorizing vocabulary words or verb conjugations. I was learning by reading, singing, and playing. I wanted to be in Spanish class, because that's where my friends were and that's where the fun was! There was a strong bond between my amigos in class and me, knowing that we shared a special skill we would carry with us for the rest of our lives.

I am proud to be able to tell prospective Language Stars parents with conviction and true understanding that exposing their children to foreign language in an immersive setting is one of the best things they can do for their children. Luckily, parents don't have to take my word for it and can see our programs for themselves through a trial class. So come check us out and see what foreign language can do for your child!