EARLY IMMERSION. Mimi, Ayame, and Timmy (L-R) sing along in Japanese at a recent "Sing and Play" group. The International School recently added the sessions to allow children up to age four and their parents or caregivers to view the school’s immersion program. (AR Photo/Pamela Ellgen)

From The Asian Reporter, V18, #4 (January 22, 2008), page 11 & 15.

By Pamela Ellgen

Sensei Junko O’Neill recommends children begin learning another language when they are as young as possible. So no one balked when I brought my four-month-old, Brad, to the "Sing and Play" Japanese class at the International School two weeks ago. And he wasn’t the youngest would-be language prodigy; one mom brought her nine-week-old girl.

Nearly 20 youngsters under age five gathered in a circle, babbling in elementary Japanese before class.

"Lisa-chan!" one young boy said as he pulled a crumpled name tag out of his infant sister’s mouth.

Other children ran to greet Brad with eager good morning wishes, "Ohayo gozaimasu, Brad-san!"

The class began as the moms, most of whom are Japanese, introduced their children in the target language. Many of the families speak Japanese at home and come to the International School so children can have a formal education in the language.

However, O’Neill said it is difficult for local Japanese-American families to find opportunities for their children to learn Japanese outside of class. So, when the International School offered the "Sing and Play" event for four consecutive Fridays in January, they filled up immediately.

"We didn’t expect so many," O’Neill said, "This was great!"

Most of the children had a good grasp of the language already, and sang along as O’Neill and Sensei Keiko Buckendahl led simple songs and activities.

O’Neill held up a picture of a cat and said, "Kore nani?" The children responded with enthusiasm, "Neko!"

After the songs about animals and activities involving standing and sitting, O’Neill opened a small bento box and pulled out the first lunch item. "Nigiri!" the children shouted. After nigiri, they counted out how many carrots, radishes, and other foods were in the box.

Counting, at last something I could understand. I didn’t begin Japanese-language classes until college, and self-deprecation aside, my experience at the "Sing and Play" class illustrates the importance of introducing children to a second language as early as possible for real success.

Developmentally, children begin learning the sounds and rhythms of their parents’ native tongue in utero. They begin recognizing words as early as three months. Experts agree that the earlier a child is exposed to a second language, the better the child’s skills will be in that language. Furthermore, this doesn’t compromise the child’s skills in his or her first language, but, as some studies suggest, it can actually improve cognitive ability to learn two languages at once.

Linda Bonder of the International School said, "In addition to having the natural brain wiring for language learning, young children don’t have the inhibitions that make older children and adults hesitant to try speaking in an unfamiliar tongue."

The International School offers classes for children beginning as early as three years old and continuing through the fifth grade. Full immersion in Japanese is an element unique to the school, as many programs offer partial immersion with a half-day in English and a half-day in the target language. O’Neill says this full-immersion provides for the greatest language acquisition.

The school also offers full-immersion programs in Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, as well as numerous afterschool cultural activities in all three languages.

This was the first "Sing and Play" class the school has offered. Following the event, parents were invited to tour the school and watch regular school classes in progress. Due to the popularity of the classes, the school has added two more dates to its "Sing and Play" class schedule — February 15 and 22. The International School will also offer a special Japanese Track open house on Tuesday, February 12 at 8:45am. Guests are invited to meet current parents and watch Japanese Track classes in action.

To learn more, or to register, call (503) 226-2496, ext. 305, e-mail <japanese@intlschool.org>, or visit <www.intlschool.org>.