Category Archives: Highlights

Kids of all ages and their families are invited for an in-language holiday story time session with us at Half-Price Books, Redmond (7805 Leary Way, Redmond, WA 98052), on Thursday, December 6, 2018.

Celebrate family literacy, and immerse yourselves in language and culture with Spanish and Japanese folklores from 10am to 11am. See you there!

Registration is now open for our Spring classes which run from February 4, 2019 to June 16, 2019. We have a full schedule with weekday and weekend options in our Seattle, Kirkland and Issaquah locations.

Below are some enhancements to our Curriculum that will be sure to supplement language and cultural learning inside and outside the classroom:

  • Language Coursebook – provides a brief overview of the Sponge class elements and method, guidelines, and hand-outs for the whole course.
  • Storybooks – The phrases and vocabulary your child is learning in class are now weaved into stories you can read with them and enjoy. The storybook contains romanized text for languages like Mandarin and Japanese, with colorful illustrations and dedicated coloring pages for your young language learner. It also features Quick Response (QR) Code you can scan using your phone or another device to listen to the story in language – a great feature for pronunciation review for you and your little one! Our Summer Storybooks are already available for purchase here: https://spongeschool.com/shop/
  • Sponge Online Portal – Free access to our new, interactive Online Portal to help parents and students with language learning, including pronunciation;
  • Two weeks of Cultural Classes at the end of the session in place of the Grand Review;
  • Each unit features a Final Project for JK classes as cultural extension;

Sign up now!

Looking for extensive immersion for your young language learner that combines free play, art, science, and basic literacy in the target language? Sign up now for our Sponge LanguagePlayTM Program!

Sponge LanguagePlay program is a half-day, twice a week,  immersive learning program where students learn a new language and discover world culture through exploration and hands-on activities.

At Sponge LanguagePlay, children, teachers, and staff come together to share their perspectives and gain a sense of global awareness. We believe in creating a warm, nurturing environment where children feel secure and can gain confidence in their own abilities as well as absorb and learn a new language in a natural setting.

The Sponge LanguagePlay curriculum goes beyond our regular once/week language classes by expanding it through the inclusion of  additional art, science, and basic literacy activities in the target language. Our LanguagePlay classes introduce students to culture through music, dance, food, language and dress, all in an immersion environment. This facilitates each child’s growth towards independence in our increasingly global society by building confidence, curiosity, self-esteem and friendships.

The Sponge LanguagePlay program is designed for 3 to 5 year-old children who are ready for independent learning. At this stage, kids are mastering their native language–irregular rules and all. They are picking up new vocabulary and ways to express themselves, and they naturally use these skills with their second language too. We play games, do crafts, practice basic literacy, sing, and move–all in language. Our curriculum focuses on practical everyday language with new, fun thematic units every 5 weeks.

Program is offered in Spanish, Mandarin, French, Japanese, and German at our Issaquah location. Session runs from October 15, 2018 to June 16, 2019.

Join in on the fun and sign up here!

 

Dress for mess and join Smart with Art at Sponge!

Join us as we explore an assortment of art mediums in an education environment. Discover art history and culture content as we expand our creative mind with our imagination. Each session, students will delve into a variety of art materials and methods through our processed oriented exciting lessons.

Experience clay, sculpture, metal, printmaking, charcoal, watercolors, acrylic, pastels and more! Each session offers all new and exciting projects, a variety of materials and methods, and stimulating art experiences. Don’t miss out on the Total Art Experience with Smart with Art this Fall. Our session includes a sketchbook and concludes with an enriching art show.

Art classes are conducted in English and begins Thursday, September 6, 2018 and runs through Tuesday, November 6, 2018 in our Mt. Baker and Issaquah Centers.

Sign up for classes here.

SPONGE TO OPEN NEW LOCATION IN ISSAQUAH
WITH AROUND-THE-WORLD CELEBRATION EVENT

World language classes for children will begin in September

  • What: Mini-classes, arts and crafts, and performances by 耳文庫・Mimibunko and Thistle Theatre.
  • Where: 22525 SE 64th Place, Suite 140, Issaquah, WA 98027
  • When: Sunday, Aug. 26, 10am – 2 p.m.

Sponge, an award-winning children’s language program, will open a new location in Issaquah!

To celebrate the occasion, families are invited to an around-the-world grand opening event on Sunday, Aug. 26th from 10am to 2pm. This free event will take families all over the globe with international snacks, fun-filled Spanish, Mandarin, French, Japanese and German classes taught by native-speaking teachers; crafts from around the world; and dance performances. Families may enter to win special door prizes, including free storybooks and discounted language classes for the Fall 2018 season. This event is geared toward children ages 10 and younger and their families.

The new Issaquah location in the Meadow Creek Office Park complex offers Eastside families a convenient location to take Sponge language classes. It is easily accessible by I-90, with lots of great amenities nearby. The fall session at the new site will kick off Wednesday Sept. 5.

Sign up for mini-classes here!

 

Thanks to your support, Sponge has been chosen as a finalist by kids and families through ParentMap’s Golden Teddy Awards, for the eighth year in a row!

This year, we were privileged to be nominated in two (2) categories under Camps+Classes, and through your overwhelming support, Sponge is the only language provider finalist in the Engaging Infant + Tot Class and After-School Enrichment categories.

Sponge is a finalist in the After-School Enrichment Classes Category. For the past years, more than thirty (30) schools shared our passion for language and culture. The Sponge elementary curriculum is also currently being used under license by Mercer Island School District to teach Spanish to over 2000 students weekly across all their elementary school World Languages Program.

Sponge is also a finalist in the Engaging Infant + Tot Classes! Our Child-Caregiver classes offer a fun way for parents/caregivers to bond with their children through our fun classes. Trial a class now and see for yourself!

It is Sponge’s mission to nurture global citizens and your trust inspires us to deliver even better programs in our Centers and schools. Immerse in the Sponge experience in our weekly center classeslanguage camps, and online classes this summer, pre-register for our elementary fall classes or bring Sponge to your school!

2017- Winner (Passport-Ready Language or Art Class), Finalist (Engaging Infant + Tot Classes)
2016 – Finalist (infant & Toddler classes, After school enrichment)
2015 – Finalist (After school enrichment)
2014 – Winner (After school), Finalist (Infant & Toddler classes)
2013 – Finalist (Infant & Toddler classes)
2012 – Winner (Infant & Toddler classes)
2011 – Finalist (Infant & Toddler classes)

 

Gear up for a new season and a new Sponge Center! Registration is now open for our Fall classes which run from September 5, 2018 to January 27, 2019. We have a full schedule with weekday and weekend options in our Seattle and Kirkland locations, and in our new Center at Issaquah!

Below are some enhancements to our Curriculum that will be sure to supplement language and cultural learning inside and outside the classroom:

  • Language Coursebook – provides a brief overview of the Sponge class elements and method, guidelines, and hand-outs for the whole course.
  • Storybooks – The phrases and vocabulary your child is learning in class are now weaved into stories you can read with them and enjoy. The storybook contains romanized text for languages like Mandarin and Japanese, with colorful illustrations and dedicated coloring pages for your young language learner. It also features Quick Response (QR) Code you can scan using your phone or another device to listen to the story in language – a great feature for pronunciation review for you and your little one! Our Summer Storybooks are already available for purchase here: https://spongeschool.com/shop/
  • Sponge Online Portal – Free access to our new, interactive Online Portal to help parents and students with language learning, including pronunciation;
  • Two weeks of Cultural Classes at the end of the session in place of the Grand Review;
  • Each unit features a Final Project for JK classes as cultural extension;

Sign up now!

Looking for ways to continue language learning in the summer? In need of customized language instruction for yourself or your young language learner? Sponge offers private classes and 1:1 in-person or online tutoring tailored to your needs.

Get to know our diverse group of teachers from all over the world. Many have degrees in language and education and years of experience in teaching. Many are parents themselves and experience personally the joys — and challenges — of raising bilingual children. They all have a passion for sharing language and culture with children and their families.

Book an appointment with our English as a Second Language (ESL), French, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish tutors to know more!

Registration is now open for our Summer 2018 session!

Classes run from June 25 to August 26, 2018. We have a full schedule with weekday and weekend options in Seattle and Kirkland locations!

Below are some enhancements to our Curriculum that will be sure to supplement language and cultural learning inside and outside the classroom:

  • Language Coursebook – provides a brief overview of the Sponge class elements and method, guidelines, and hand-outs for the whole course.
  • Storybooks – The phrases and vocabulary your child is learning in class are now weaved into stories you can read with them and enjoy. The storybook contains romanized text for languages like Mandarin and Japanese, with colorful illustrations and dedicated coloring pages for your young language learner. It also features Quick Response (QR) Code you can scan using your phone or another device to listen to the story in language – a great feature for pronunciation review for you and your little one! Our Summer Storybooks are already available for purchase here: https://spongeschool.com/shop/
  • Sponge Online Portal – Free access to our new, interactive Online Portal to help parents and students with language learning, including pronunciation;
  • Two weeks of Cultural Classes at the end of the session in place of the Grand Review;
  • Each unit features a Final Project for JK classes as cultural extension;

Sign up now!

Be ready for the Days of Summer!

We’re offering six weeks of language immersion camps this summer, from June 25 to August 3. Help your student keep up their Spanish, Chinese, and French skills over the summer months through games, cooking, culture and art!

Registration is now open for Bellevue & Issaquah camps!

Looking for a great summer camp deal? Through early March, we are making a limited number of spots available with a very special rate on a first-come, first-serve basis! Use coupon code SUPERCAMP2018 during check out to lock in this deal while spots are available!

Check out this year’s camp themes, schedules and locations here.