Naperville library offers foreign language story times

Taking advantage of children’s ability to absorb language and grammar at an early age, Naperville Public Library is showcasing story times in four foreign languages in January.

Teachers from Language Stars, a Chicago-based provider of early foreign language education, will host six interactive foreign language story times at the three Naperville Public Library facilities.

“We teach kids foreign languages the same way they would learn their first language,” said Oscar Ramirez, center director of Language Stars Naperville. “All of our classes and story times are led in the native language.”

Participants will learn different languages through hands-on activities, including singalongs, a small introduction of greetings, and storytime in the specific foreign language. The languages include Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese and Italian.

During the program, a teacher from Language Stars will read a popular book familiar to most children in a foreign language, making it easier to understand and learn the language.

“Children are able to incorporate into all the activities even if it is their first time exposed to the language,” Ramirez said, adding Spanish is the most popular language to teach.

The first storytime will be conducted in Spanish from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Jan. 8 at Naper Boulevard Library, 2035 S. Naper Blvd. Also at Naper Boulevard Library will be a program in French from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Jan. 9.

Another storytime will showcase Spanish from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Jan. 15 and then Mandarin Chinese from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Jan. 16, both at 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Drive.

At Nichols, a storytime in Italian will be held 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Jan. 20 and another one in French will be 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Jan. 21 at Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave.

Becoming bilingual or multilingual at an early age improves brain development, enhances problem-solving skills, improves performance on standardized tests and heightens creativity, according to Language Stars’ website.

“Before age 10, children in the class can mimic a foreign accent flawlessly. They can absorb grammar intuitively,” Ramirez said. “They can build a foundation in a second language alongside their first language.”

Attendees will leave the storytime with foreign language vocabulary coloring sheets, and some will walk out repeating phrases in a foreign language or eager to check out foreign language books, Ramirez said.

The program is recommended for children ages 1 to 6, but all ages may attend. Children need no prior knowledge of the language before attending the program, and parents are encouraged to attend.

For more information, go to www.naperville-lib.org/content/eventskids.