As New York parents, we’re all too familiar with the many options for school. We know how overwhelming (and time-consuming) it can be to research the different options and find out what would work best for your child. That’s why, we’re coming in clutch with your guide to all things bilingual education!
If you’re considering sending your children to a school that has a bilingual program, then stop the oh-so-exhausting research process now and check out our brief (but informative, as always) summary about what to expect. Bilingual education has become increasingly popular in New York and beyond, so we’ve got the scoop on why that is and how some of these programs are structured. Read on to find out if bilingual education is for your family.
History of Bilingual Education in NYC
Bilingual education has been around for quite some time now. Private schools each have their own founding stories, many dating back to the early 20th century. But as for bilingual programs in New York public schools, bilingual and ESL education appeared in 1974 following a lawsuit against the NYC’s Board of Education for failing to educate Puerto Rican students with limited English skills. Since the implementation of the Aspira Consent Decree, New York ESL and Bilingual programs have expanded to serve students speaking over 145 languages. While bilingual education began primarily as a way for kids who speak their native language at home to learn English, it has since become attractable to parents of kids who already speak English natively. Why? Keep reading to find out!
Why Bilingual Education?
You may be wondering what all the hype is about bilingual education anyway. First and foremost, bilingual learning not only connects students with another language, but with that language’s culture as well. We all want to see our little scholars grow into well-rounded adults with a strong education, but we also want them to accept difference, celebrate diversity, promote inclusion, and craft an open mind. Bilingual education shows kids from an early age that their own language and culture is not the only one, and it broadens their perspective from New York to the greater world in which we are all a part of.
Not only do kids develop more inclusive views early on, but bilingual education instills empathy. Think about this: your child is learning to speak both English and Italian. All of their friends at school are too, but some of their friends in their neighborhood at home don’t go to a bilingual school. So your child has to think about this, and then decide to use English when communicating with these friends: in other words, they have to think about others before thinking about themself. While this quick decision-making process may seem trivial, it actually kick starts empathy, collaboration, and social emotional skills from a young age.
And finally, studies have shown that bilingual education actually accelerates and improves many academic skills (that extend well beyond the classroom), such as reading levels, problem-solving, math competency, creative thinking, and more. Part of this is because learning two languages at once sharpens their memory, but it’s also because learning two languages shows kids that there is more than one way to approach something. Much like their decision to speak either language based on their situational context, they’ll likely look at challenges in the same way, whether that means coming up with multiple ways to build something STEM related or thinking about solving a math problem on a test in multiple ways.
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Types of Bilingual Education
Now that we’ve covered our bases on why bilingual education is so popular, let’s go over the types of bilingual education, because yes, there’s even subcategories within the categories when it comes to New York education.
Public vs. Private
The first decision you have to make is whether you want to send your kids to a public or private bilingual school. Well, before that you should consider what foreign language you want your kids to learn. This is because public schools offer many English-Spanish programs, but if you’re looking for Italian, German, or French bilingual education, you’ll likely have more options with private schools. This isn’t to say that you can’t find programs with these languages in public schools: many public schools offer Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Italian, Bengali, French, and more. But the catch is that if you don’t live in that district, you’ll have to apply to attend that school. As for private schools, your kids will likely have more focused attention on them and their language learning because of the smaller number of students. Many bilingual private schools have two teachers in every classroom — one who natively speaks English, and the other who natively speaks the other language that the school teaches. Both public and private schools have their pros, but if you are hesitant to browse private schools because of financial circumstances, be sure to check out their admissions pages first. Many New York private bilingual schools offer generous financial aid and scholarships, so don’t let this deter you!
English as a Second Language vs. Dual Language
Does your child speak another language at home and you want them to learn English through school? If yes, then English as a Second Language (ESL) is the bilingual education format that you’re looking for. If your goal is for your child to learn two languages simultaneously (half instruction in one language and half in another language), then Dual Language is the right fit.
Hopefully this guide summed up bilingual education for you. If you’re considering sending your little one to a bilingual school, check out our round up of the Best Bilingual Schools in New York!
Bilingual Education Resources
1309 Madison Avenue, New York NY
92nd&93rd Street
212-501-8524 or 917-940-9917
Carousel of Languages provides the proven brain-building benefits of early foreign language exposure for infants, toddlers, and young children. Focused on the most crucial language learning window, ages 0-5, Carousel Teaching System®, their research-backed signature curriculum, emphasizes the importance of multisensory learning through verbal, visual, and tactile association in a nurturing, playful, immersive classroom environment, enriched with exquisite custom learning materials. Founded in 2000, over 10,000 children taught! Register today for 2024-25—lessons in 12 languages!
Collina Italiana Italian Language and Cultural Center
1556 Third Avenue, Suite 602-603, New York, NY
212-427-7770
Discover the joy of learning Italian at Collina Italiana! Italian instructors at CI are passionate about sharing their language and culture. Children will embark on a delightful journey into the heart of Italy, no matter their current language skills. Summer Mini camp, suitable for kids aged 3-10, is a wonderful kickoff point. Kids will learn Italian through fun games, lively music, energetic dance, and so much more. Can’t make it to the camp? No worries! Collina Italiana offers private and group classes all year round.
111 East 22nd Street, New York, NY 10010
646- 766 1843
bonjour@theecole.org
Located in Manhattan’s vibrant Flatiron District, The École is an intimate, independent French-American bilingual school that cultivates an internationally-minded community of students from 2 to 14 years old. The team at The École believes that the goal of education is to develop well-informed, well-rounded, responsible, and compassionate students who can create and connect to a world filled with possibilities. Find out more about The École at an Open Houses or on a private tour.
German-American School Manhattan
GSM Preschool:
85 Warren St., New York, NY 10007
GSM Dual Immersion K-5:
74 Warren St., 646-869-1152
info@germanschoolmanhattan.org
GSM uses small classes to make a big impact.
The English curriculum that is offered starting in Kindergarten, exposes students to the modern standards of ELA, complementing the German Curriculum that stems from a long tradition of educational pedagogy. GSM teaches a bilingual program of inquiry and is an IB PYP candidate school. In the context of a globally connected future, GSM values academics, arts and activism, raising future leaders that dare to make a difference. Enrolling Preschool (3s & 4s) and Lower School K-5. Knowledge of German is not a prerequisite to apply.
German International School New York (GISNY)
White Plains, NY 10605
admissions@gisny.org
914- 948-6513
Discover German International School New York: The Path to Excellence from Pre-K to Grade 12! Close to New York City, the beautiful campus with green spaces can easily be reached by bus from Manhattan. They’re the only ones offering the New York State High School Diploma and German International Abitur in the tri-state area. With their bilingual, science-centered curriculum, they nurture curious, analytical, and global citizens. No German required for Pre-K or Kindergarten. Their world is waiting.
55 West 52st New York NY
212-787-8088
A PreK 2s – Grade 8 Mandarin and Spanish full immersion school where children learn the same academic content taught in other top private schools and public schools, but in two languages – English and Mandarin or Spanish. Through a combination of academic rigor, small class sizes and full immersion, students consistently outperform monolingual peers, while developing high proficiency in a second language. Students who complete the program through middle school achieve high levels on AP language tests. Approximately 90% of HudsonWay graduates are admitted to their top choice independent school.
505 East 75th Street
212-369-1400
La joie means joy in French, joy in learning and joy in growing at one of NYC’s (and the world’s) most renowned bilingual schools: Lycée Français de New York. In Nursery, Pre-K and Kindergarten, each class is taught by both a French-speaking and an English-speaking teacher throughout the day. Preschoolers learn skills in reading, math and writing; and self-expression through art, music, and movement—in French and in English, with plenty of time for play. Getting an early start makes all the difference in new language acquisition, and children (and families!) with no previous knowledge of French are welcome across their preschool.
Lyceum-Kennedy International School
225 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017
Admissions@lyceumkennedy.org
212-681-1877
Lyceum Kennedy International School offers two unique bilingual programs: French-English, Nursery – 12 th , and Japanese-English, Nursery – Kindergarten. Lyceum
Kennedy prides itself on its individualized student support, smaller classes, and rigorous curricula to help students reach their highest potential. The school’s transformative education promotes global citizenship and cultural competence in a truly diverse and international environment. Additionally, Lyceum Kennedy’s 11 th and 12 th grade students pursue the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, supporting a wider range of secondary education opportunities, both domestically and internationally.
212-787-7543
kidslearngerman@aol.com
German-American School offers a once-a-week accredited after-school language program. The school has been teaching German since 1892 when it focused on children of German immigrants. Today it teaches children of all ethnicities. Students graduate with the NY State Regents (FLAC) exam.
Petits Poussins Daycares, a member of VHG Group Inc.
Director@vhggroupny.com
Petits Poussins Daycares & Preschools in Manhattan and Brooklyn welcome a unique diverse community and apply their core values, Love, Fun, and Duty, in their curriculum and foundation. Their French, Spanish, and English-speaking teams motivate and guide their Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers in becoming independent, confident, and caring students in a bilingual setting. Their “Little Chicks” teams live by their mission to “raise socially conscious global citizens”. Visit their website or centers and discover top-notch schools where children flourish in an amazing global environment.
401 West End Ave., New York, NY
1556 Third Ave., New York, NY
212-724-2421
Contact: Irene Coeny, Director
Since 2010, Planet Han has made learning Mandarin fun for students in a fun and engaging,100% immersive classroom environment. Their proven Model-Action-Talk approach grows with your child. The school works to personalize each student’s learning experience so they continue to learn and thrive in Mandarin Chinese as they grow. Your child will achieve Mandarin fluency and speak like a native speaker, giving them the ability to communicate with Chinese speakers anywhere in the world.
Rella’s Spielhaus German Nursery and Preschool
50 West 97th Street, suite 1-D
willkommen@rellasspielhaus.com
646- 837-6777
rellasspielhaus.com/uws
Rella’s Spielhaus, Manhattan’s first German Nursery and Preschool offers part-time and full-time care for children 5 months to 5yrs. The curriculum creates a stimulating mix between a child-centered NYC Early Childhood Curriculum and a culturally rich German curriculum. Music education, soccer and dance are part of the weekly enrichment classes. In a calm and joyful atmosphere, the native German teachers carefully guide each child through their day. Schedule: Mon-Fri: 8:30am – 4pm (flexible Aftercare until 5:30pm).
