bilingual education Archives

Inside Rowland Unified’s Dual Language Immersion: Spanish and Mandarin Programs for TK–6

Published December 23, 2025

Rowland Unified School District is proud to offer award-winning Dual Language Immersion Schools – Rorimer Elementary and Hurley Elementary offer Spanish Dual Immersion starting in Transitional Kindergarten and are both located in the City of La Puente.

Do you want your child to learn Chinese or Spanish, explore other cultures and be prepared for the global economy? Or perhaps bring tears to the eyes of grandparents and family members as your child communicates with them on another level?

In Rowland Unified, opportunities abound for students to connect with the world and prepare them for the future of their choice. Students receive an early start on success through Rowland Unified School District’s Dual Language Immersion Programs. Beginning in TK/Kindergarten, students learn to read, write and speak Chinese or Spanish to become bilingual, biliterate and bicultural. Students learn to think critically and creatively in all academic content areas in two languages. Research shows that learning a second language helps develop strong thinking and reasoning skills that are useful for problem solving in math and science.

Shelyn Elementary in Rowland Heights offers one of the leading Mandarin Dual Language Immersion programs in the country that starts in Kindergarten, and schoolwide Chinese language and culture enrichment.

Shelyn Elementary in Rowland Heights is a Mandarin Dual Immersion School for grades TK-6 and offers schoolwide enrichment. Shelyn was awarded as a 2023 Distinguished K-12 Mandarin Chinese Program in the U.S. by the Chinese Language Teachers Association (CLTA-USA). It is one of only 20 schools in the nation that were awarded and the only one in the San Gabriel Valley!

For parents interested in having their child master Spanish, two award-winning Spanish Dual Language Immersion Schools are in Rowland Unified that begin instruction in Transitional Kindergarten: Hurley Elementary and Rorimer Elementary, both TK-6 elementary schools in La Puente. Programs focus on high levels of academic performance in two languages that enable a well-rounded biliterate education and an understanding and appreciation for cultures around the world.

Enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year opens on January 20^th and parents are invited to upcoming in-person and virtual meetings starting on January 27^th to learn more about these popular dual language programs that fill up quickly.

Rowland Unified TK/Kindergarten Parent Information Meetings (In-Person and Virtually). Spanish/Chinese translators will be available.

Tuesday, January 27 at Alvarado Intermediate 9 AM to 10 AM. Register at https://bit.ly/RUSDTKKInfo1

Tuesday, January 27 at Nogales High School 6 PM to 7 PM. Register at https://bit.ly/RUSDTKKInfo2

Tuesday, February 10 at Giano Intermediate 9 AM to 10 AM. Register at https://bit.ly/RUSDTKKInfo3. Additional information can be found at www.rowlandschools.org or by calling (626) 965-2541

Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles Marks 60 Years of Bilingual Excellence and Growth

Published October 1, 2025

As Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles proudly celebrates its 60th anniversary, the school continues to build on its legacy of bilingual, bicultural education by expanding opportunities for the youngest learners. This milestone year is marked by the launch of a new Junior Preschool (Toute Petite Section) for 2 year olds, reaffirming the school’s commitment to offering students a strong foundation in both French and American educational traditions from the very beginning.

Founded by Raymond and Esther Kabbaz, Le Lycée transformed California’s educational landscape when, on Aug. 19, 1965, its initiative and efforts led to a change in the state’s Code of Education, allowing core curriculum to be taught in languages other than English. For six decades, the school has embraced bilingualism, multiculturalism, rigorous academics and enriching extracurriculars, while nurturing generations of students from 72 nationalities with more than 33 languages spoken.

The Junior Preschool program, now open at Campus 55 on Overland Avenue, honors the legacy of the school’s former Palisades campus — once home to a beloved Toute Petite Section — and marks a new chapter in Le Lycée’s growth. Licensed by the State of California, the program requires no prior knowledge of French or English and is designed for children of all language backgrounds. “My mother used to tell prospective families, ‘Give me your child to educate and I will give you back two children: one French and one American,’” reflects Clara-Lisa Kabbaz (Le Lycée Class of 1979), Head of Le Lycée. “I am thrilled we can now begin this transformative journey even earlier, as we celebrate our 60th year.”

While the school looks to the future with this expansion, it also takes pride in its alumni whose accomplishments reflect the power of a Lycée education. Among them is Asher Cohen, class of 2021, a true “Lycée Lifer” who entered our school as a preschooler. At only 20 years old, Asher was recently named UC Berkeley’s University Medalist, the top student in the school’s graduation class, a remarkable recognition of his intellectual talent, dedication and humility. A Regent’s Award winner upon entering Berkeley — an honor reserved for the top 1–2% of applicants — Asher excelled across disciplines, from advanced sciences and mathematics to humanities, languages, philosophy and literature. He is now headed to the prestigious Yale University Medical School, where his brilliance will be matched by his compassion and kindness, qualities that have always defined him, the qualities emblematic of Lycée students.

“Asher embodies what makes our students extraordinary,” says Kabbaz. “They become not only leaders in their fields but also gracious, thoughtful, and caring individuals who inspire those around them. The world needs more Asher Cohens.”

From its founding vision to today’s expansion and the ongoing successes of its alumni, Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles remains “your school for life.”

For more information and to apply, visit www.lyceela.org.

Join us at an Open House: Oct. 7, Nov 13, 2025, or Jan. 13, 2026.

Brain Power: Benefits of Learning a Second Language at an Early Age

Published February 6, 2023

Development of memory, better concentration and focus, faster adaptation, are among the many reasons why teaching your child a second language can help boost their brain development.

Did you know that approximately 60-75% of the world population can speak at least two languages? In fact, studies have shown that knowing two or three languages is beneficial at any age, yet many people have the same question – why should a young child learn a second language while they are focused on learning their primary one? It seems like this would be learning overload at a time when they are also learning how to be friends, count, play and so much more. However, this is a time in our lives when acquiring a second language comes naturally.

In fact, between the ages of 0-3, the brains of children are uniquely suited to learn a second language as the brain is in its most flexible stage. Bilingually exposed infants excelled in detecting a switch in language as early as six months old. They can learn a second language as easy as they learn to walk and grasp their primary language. According to a recent census report, 27% of children under the age of 6 are now learning a language other thanEnglish, and that learning a second language does not negatively impact the child’s native one.

As adults, we have to consider grammar rules and practice, however young children absorb sounds, structures, intonation patterns and the rules of a second language very easily. Up until the age of 8, young learners benefit from flexible ear and speech muscles that can detect differences between the sounds of a second language.

While it may be easier for young children to pick up a second language, there are benefits for adults as well. Researchers found that young adults who knew two languages performed better on attention tests and had better concentration compared to those who only spoke one language. This is largely because of the workout our brain receives while switching back and forth between one language and another when deciding how to communicate. It allows us to focus better during a lecture and retain relevant information.

With this in mind, we consulted Stratford School’s Bilingual Mandarin teachers from our San Francisco campus to help understand the advantages of a bilingual preschool, why it is beneficial for children and the questions to ask when selecting a bilingual school for your child.

Understanding What a Bilingual Preschool Is

According to Amy Yu, Preschool Bilingual Mandarin Teacher. “An early learning bilingual program supports the language-sensitive period that ranges from infancy to age 7. The most widely known model of bilingual education is the development bilingual model, in which there is a 50/50 balance between teaching the two languages. Based on decades of research, we know multilingual children gain a cognitive, academic and social edge in school and beyond. In addition, children gain cultural competence that nurtures their ability to understand, appreciate and interact with people from cultures different from their own.”

Additional advice comes from Kuen “Rita” Hung Fong, Pre-Kindergarten Bilingual Mandarin Teacher. “A bilingual language program is a place for children to learn a new language naturally and comfortably within a practical environment,” she says. “Children can learn to speak Mandarin (or another language) through playing different activities, singing songs and engaging with others.”

Questions to Ask When Selecting a Bilingual School

How do you pick the best school for your child? As you go through the process of choosing a school, remember that you are looking for a school that will make the educational experience for your child and you as rewarding as possible. According to Janet Wong, Pre-Kindergarten Bilingual Mandarin teacher, “When selecting a bilingual program for your child, consider asking some of these questions:

What percentage of time will my child engage in each of the languages?
What is your teaching model? One teacher, two teachers?
What training do teachers receive for teaching in a bilingual classroom?
Are the teachers certified in teaching bilingual languages?
How will my child be supported individually as they learn a new language?
In which ways do you develop cultural competencies?
What are some of the learning goals for my child this year?
How can we support at home? What is our role in supporting both languages?

Ideally, the school should have a clear mission and vision for its bilingual program. Like any school decision, families should feel welcomed, respected and cared for as they decide if a bilingual program is a good fit for their child and for the family.

Learning two languages will not confuse or distract your child. Remember, their brains are flexible and the skills that develop beyond learning a second language are immeasurable. Bilingual children learn that an object stays the same even though the object has a different name in a different language. Studies have also shown that foreign-language learning increases critical thinking skills, creativity and flexibility of mind.

Learn more about Stratford School and our Mandarin Bilingual programs at www.stratfordschools.com.

L.A. Parent