We Teach Children Spanish From Their Earliest Years
Did you know that the best time for children to become fluent in a second language is when they are young? Studies show that kids who start learning a language early are more confident, accurate in pronunciation, and able to speak without translating. The more often they’re exposed to a new language, the more fluent they become!
At Isabella & Ferdinand, we believe in the power of starting early. Our Spanish curriculum is designed to give children a head start in mastering the language. From just 12 months old, children are immersed in Spanish, guided by passionate native-speaking teachers who make learning fun and engaging. Through playful activities, songs, and interactive experiences, they build vocabulary, improve pronunciation, and start speaking Spanish with confidence.
Isabella & Ferdinand’s curriculum is based on the linguistic standards of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the Instituto Cervantes in Madrid, two of the most respected authorities on teaching the Spanish language. We seek to ensure that children master correct pronunciation and verb tense usage, learn a broad set of vocabulary and become conversational as soon as possible.
Let your child’s language journey begin with us—because the earlier they start, the further they’ll go!
“In today’s competitive academic environment, we’re all looking to give our kids that additional edge. Meanwhile, global developments continue to increase the demand for bilingual professionals. Why not prepare our children for this from the get-go?”
Our Teaching Methods Are Academically Sound & Effective
Isabella & Ferdinand’s curriculum is based on the linguistic standards of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the Instituto Cervantes in Madrid, two of the most respected authorities on teaching the Spanish language. We seek to ensure that children master correct pronunciation and verb tense usage, learn a broad set of vocabulary and become conversational as soon as possible. We teach children the best, most proper standard of Spanish, free of “Spanglish” or slang.
Children are taught a universal Spanish – ensuring they will be understood as well in Madrid as in Mexico City. Furthermore, our original Isabella & Ferdinand Learning Gems™ teaching system incorporates best practices for teaching children of all learning styles foreign language, incorporating varied activities geared towards increasing comprehension and conversational ability. Children are taught the fundamentals of Spanish by qualified teachers who are all native-speakers of the language and are passionate about teaching children.
Our Unique, Cultural Curriculum Provides an Advantage
“The degree to which a learner acculturates to a …language…will control the degree to which s/he acquires the second language.”
In addition to linguistic excellence, Isabella & Ferdinand focuses on cultural understanding. Recent studies show that by learning a foreign language in a cultural context, children achieve fluency at a faster rate, gaining a more comprehensive array of vocabulary and oral expressions in that target language. By becoming “culturally fluent” as well as linguistically conversant, children gain a greater perspective of the Spanish-speaking world and eventually will be able to use their Spanish in a more comprehensive and effective way.
Through Isabella & Ferdinand’s CultureCentric Immersion™ curriculum children will learn about the most iconic authors, artists, music and traditions of Spain and Latin America, experiencing writers such as Miguel de Cervantes and Rafael Pombo, artists such as Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera and Velázquez, and music such as flamenco, cumbia and samba in new and exciting ways. In some classes, children will “meet” cultural heroes from the Spanish-speaking world and will also be able to role-play themselves, donning costumes and acting out their lessons in Spanish. By learning Spanish in a rich cultural context, children not only leave our classes with a foundation in Ibero-American art, history, and culture (an element that is not often taught in schools), but more importantly they learn to express themselves in Spanish more accurately and more fully than many of their peers.
A Spanish journey with High Education Standards
What is DELE?
DELE Spanish Diplomas are official, internationally recognized titles that certify the holder's degree of fluency in Spanish. The only way to earn a DELE Spanish Diploma is by taking a DELE exam.
Isabella & Ferdinand will be the only Spanish language learning center currently accredited by the Instituto Cervantes in the nation's capital. Pursuant to the new accreditation from Instituto Cervantes, Isabella & Ferdinand is now fully authorized to administer and prepare students in grades 5-12 to take the "Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera" (DELE or Diploma for Spanish as Foreign Language in English), an international examination that measures a student's language aptitude in Spanish.
Isabella & Ferdinand will administer the DELE examination at Horace Mann Elementary School where it has established a teaching residency, as well as Washington Global Public Charter School.
Discover the Grammar Content! Get ready to delve into the exciting world of grammar as we explore a variety of topics tailored to each proficiency level.
Click on each button to view the curriculum for each level.
Level A1: Certifies that the student is able to communicate in a basic way in situations related to immediate needs or everyday situations. At level A1 (beginner), students can introduce themselves and others.
Level A2.- Certifies that the candidate can understand commonly used, everyday phrases and expressions related to areas of experience especially relevant to them (basic information about themselves and their families, shopping, places of interest, work, etc.).
Level B1.- Certifies the student's ability to understand clear texts on familiar topics, handle travel situations in Spanish-speaking areas, write simple texts, and describe experiences, wishes, and plans.
Level B2.- Certifies students' ability to interact fluently with native speakers, produce clear and detailed texts on various topics, defend opinions with arguments, and understand complex texts on concrete and abstract subjects within their area of expertise.
Level C1.- Certifies the ability to understand demanding texts, grasp implicit meaning, speak fluently, use language effectively for various purposes, and produce clear, well-structured texts on complex topics.
Level C2.- Certifies sufficient linguistic competence to communicate effectively in any situation, proving ability to spontaneously adapt to any context, with a high degree of precision. The language users show subtle control of nuances which allow for fluent and natural expression in all interactions.
Extra-Curricular Activites
To enhance the classroom experience of its students, Isabella & Ferdinand actively collaborates with many arts and cultural organizations in the communities it serves, organizing special field trips and other enrichment activities in Spanish. Some of these organizations have included the cultural and educational departments of the Embassies of Spain and Latin America, GALA Hispanic Theatre, The Washington Ballet, the National Gallery of Art, the Spanish Department of Georgetown University, the Instituto Cervantes, the Coral Gables Museum, HistoryMiami Museum, the Lowe Museum, the Gary Nader Gallery, the de la Cruz Collection and others.