Palm Bay Academy Immerses Students In Language Program

By  //  June 24, 2013

AMONG TOP 10 Florida schools

ABOVE VIDEO: Yunming Edge, Director of the Palm Bay Academy Language Immersion Program, discusses the school and it’s free education program, which is highly regarded and highly ranked in Florida.  

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Teaching Kindergardeners Chinese

BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA — For seven years, Palm Bay Academy has been immersing kindergarteners through fifth graders in a language education program that rivals any in the region.

For seven years, Palm Bay Academy has been immersing kindergarteners through fifth graders in a language education program that rivals any in the region. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
For seven years, Palm Bay Academy has been immersing kindergarteners through fifth graders in a language education program that rivals any in the region. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

“We are very proud of our dedicated staff, teachers and of our record of teaching excellence in education for our students,” said Madhu Longani, Principal of Palm Bay Academy.

“We consistently rank within the top 10 of Florida schools and our fourth graders have placed first and second in the State of Florida Writes program on numerous occasions. That is due to our dedicated Palm Bay Academy Board of Directors, our staff and our administration.”

LANGUAGE IMMERSION – SECOND TO NONE

Palm Bay Academy teaches Spanish and Chinese to its students.

Palm Bay Academy has three campus locations and offers a wide variety of excellent academic and extracurricular activities. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)
Palm Bay Academy has three campus locations and offers a wide variety of excellent academic and extracurricular activities. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)

“Spanish is the most widely spoken language in the U.S after English and is in the top three most widely spoken languages in the world,” said Longani.

“Chinese is currently the most widely spoken language in the world and due to our nation’s political, cultural and economic ties with China, learning Chinese is a very valuable tool for our young people.”

Language immersion is a method of teaching a second language and unlike a more traditional language course, where the target language is simply the subject material, language immersion uses the target language as a teaching tool, surrounding or “immersing” students in the second language.

In-class activities, such as mathematics, science, social studies, and history, and those outside of the class, such as meals or everyday tasks, are conducted in the target language.

Palm Bay Academy's buildings feature state of the art technology, a modern science lab, state of the art computer lab, and, above, a 10,000 square-foot Cafetorium, which has a full performance stage, sound proof classrooms and rehearsal rooms. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
Palm Bay Academy’s buildings feature state of the art technology, a modern science lab, state of the art computer lab, and, above, a 10,000 square-foot Cafetorium, which has a full performance stage, sound proof classrooms and rehearsal rooms. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

The goals of the immersion programs are to teach students to be fluent in a target language other than English, and to gain the skills necessary to understand and communicate in that language.

Children are often able to acquire a foreign language, much easier and faster, if they begin their course of study at an early age. Research studies show that learning a second language at an early age has a positive effect on intellectual growth, enhanced mental development, improved listening skills, and an appreciation for cultures other than the child’s own.

Language immersion also fosters a greater flexibility in thinking and problem solving as well. For this reason, Palm Bay Academy begins its language immersion program at kindergarten.

IMPROVED OPPORTUNITIES FOR BI-LINGUAL STUDENTS 

“Studies have shown that the benefits of elementary foreign language immersion programs are many, including preparation for competition in a global economy and inclusion in a growing population of second language learners.”

“Studies have shown that the benefits of elementary foreign language immersion programs are many, including preparation for competition in a global economy and inclusion in a growing population of second language learners,” said Yunming Edge, Director of the Language Immersion Program at Palm Bay Academy.

“Being bilingual gives children the ability to communicate with people they would otherwise not have had the chance to know. If students continue their study of both languages through the upper grades, they are far ahead of other candidates applying for jobs into today’s diverse working world. The asset of being bilingual is valued by all types of employers.”

ABOUT PALM BAY ACADEMY

Palm Bay Academy is a charter school with free tuition where academics are emphasized and blended with Montessori teaching principles.

The “A” rated school was created by a handful of parents in Palm Bay who  recognized the need for a learning environment offering an excelled and enriched curriculum for elementary and middle school aged children.

Palm Bay Academy.jpg 256 x 235Palm Bay Academy first opened in August of 1998 with 90 students in kindergarten through third grade. The school added grades each year, increasing student enrollment and by 2010, 510 students were enrolled in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.

The school’s rapid growth necessitated the need for additional buildings.  On the school’s 10th anniversary, in August 2008, Palm Bay Academy Middle School (6th through 8th grades) opened, consisting of three buildings totaling 35,000 sq. ft.

The buildings feature state of the art technology, a modern science lab, state of the art computer lab, a 10,000 square-foot Cafetorium, which has a full performance stage, sound proof classrooms and rehearsal rooms. The space seats 600 for a performance or graduation, and with it’s full commercial kitchen, can seat 300 for dinners and banquets.

CLICK HERE to contact Palm Bay Academy for student enrollment information.

PALM BAY ACADEMY HAS THREE CAMPUS LOCATIONS

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• Immersion Elementary K through 1 (above map)
1464 Troutman Boulevard
Palm Bay, Florida  32905
Telephone: 321-723-4218

• Traditional Elementary K through 5
2112 Palm Bay Road NE
Palm Bay, Florida  32905
Telephone: 321-984-2710

• Middle 6 through 8
1464 Troutman Boulevard
Palm Bay, Florida  32905
Telephone: 321-726-9005