5 Benefits of Hebrew Immersion Preschool
Hebrew has gone through a profound revitalization as it has been reborn from a classical into a living language. The study of the Hebrew language is a valuable vehicle for encouraging students’ development as global citizens and fostering students’ commitments to dialogue and understanding.
Beginning in August 2020, JCC Chicago Early Childhood at Beth Emet Synagogue will offer a Hebrew immersion program providing an opportunity to develop a high level of language proficiency and fluency. Children participating in this learning experience will receive the same solid foundation as in all our preschool options in a warm nurturing immersive Hebrew environment. Here are additional benefits to consider:
Self-Confidence
There’s a natural self-esteem boost that happens when any child learns something new. They’re super-proud, happy and eager to tell you about it. Exposure to a new experience in a supportive environment leads to a celebrated success for the student. Additionally, given our increasingly globalized world, your child will be acquiring skills as a youngster that will be valuable for life.
Social Skills
Preschool is the perfect place to learn about being part of a group; expressing one’s feelings, the importance of sharing, following directions, listening to others, and of course, making new friends. Educators in our Hebrew immersive program encourage children to interact with one another using body language, visuals, manipulatives, exaggerated facial expressions and expressive intonation to communicate their meaning.
Kindergarten
Being ready for kindergarten is not just about knowledge and skills; it’s also about maturity and an eagerness to learn. Preschool is a safe place to try and fail AND to try and succeed. Being immersed in a new language is challenging at first, but kids WILL develop the skills to manage through trying something new. Additionally, language immersion sparks intellectual growth, enhances verbal and mathematical problem solving, stimulates creativity, augments understanding of one’s language and facilitates learning additional languages
Brain Development
Between the ages of 2 and 5, children learn a language much easier than they do as tweens and teens. Exposure to a foreign language also improves English comprehension and vocabulary. Your child won’t just speak Hebrew when building their new language skills—they will also learn about general education topics, improving your child’s mental flexibility, pattern recognition, and problem-solving skills.
Connection to Judaism and Israel
Through this experience, kids’ world view broadens and they naturally build a meaningful connection to Israel and Judaism in a fun, creative, collaborative environment. It’s another way that JCC Chicago is committed to developing and supporting broad-reaching transformational projects and ideas that will significantly impact the next generations in Jewish life.
Let us tell you more! Contact Abby Ashkenazi, Jewish Educator at JCC Chicago: aashkenazi@jccchicago.org. Registration is now open for ‘20/’21.
JCC Chicago Early Childhood is DCFS licensed. License application for Beth Emet is pending.