Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Questions about Music Lingua language classes
- What makes Music Lingua unique among foreign language programs for kids?
Music Lingua is unique in that we teach thematic units, and we write and record all our own music that integrates perfectly with these units. Using one theme for 10-12 weeks allows us to teach a small but important section of vocabulary to children, and to reinforce it over and over until it’s well ingrained. The next theme will contain some similar vocabulary, but will add the words from the new theme as well. Since we write our own music we can create precisely the simple lyrics we need, or which utilize the vocabulary we want to teach. We often use tunes the kids are familiar with, so they feel like they already “know” the song.
- Is my child too young/old for Music Lingua?
Too young? Unequivocally, no! The best time for a child to start exposure to a second language is in infancy . Although very young infants may not show outward signs of comprehension, their brains are indeed processing the sounds of the language, and forming new neural pathways that will be used later.
Too old? That depends. The Music Lingua program is targeted toward young children up to around 8 years old, when they are most able to acquire new language skills. It has been used successfully on older children, up to 10+ years. Older than that and you may want to look towards another program. However, even starting late is better than not starting at all, and we encourage you to please give your child the opportunity to study languages, even if he or she is too old for Music Lingua.
- What is a Music Lingua class like?
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Most Music Lingua classes are attended by the parent and child, others are drop-off classes, and some are taught in preschools and elementary schools. Parents love attending with their child. Often they are native speakers or have studied the language themselves and are happy to have a refresher course and a continual reminder to speak to their child in the language. Some are just interested in starting their child young in a foreign language, and are excited to learn it along with them. (Many of these are surprised at how much faster their child picks up the language than they themselves!)
On the first day of a Music Lingua class each child is given a special take-home packet, which includes the music app, a music activity booklet with the bilingual lyrics, a storybook with audio, and a theme toy. The parents are asked to have the child listen to the music as much as possible at home and in the car. By the next class the children are already familiar with the music, perhaps even singing the songs even though they don’t know what the sounds mean, and the teacher can then focus on comprehension.
Teachers have a prop or visual aid in their units’ “Toy Box” for each major vocabulary word or concept they teach, making it easy and fun for them to convey the meanings of the songs. Most songs contain language that pertains to the theme, and others contain functional language and phrases that can be used everywhere. Each unit contains a counting song, color song, greeting song, and various season-specific songs such as weather, seasons, or clothing. Classes typically meet once a week for 45 minutes, and last 10-12 weeks.
The importance of parent involvement cannot be overemphasized. Parents who attend classes with their child can sing the songs learned in class together with their child. Even parents of drop-off kids can offer the music for listening during the week, and help them color and do the activities in the activity booklet at home. The beauty of the program is that the music goes home with the child, ensuring that the learning continues all week until the next class.
- How long is a Music Lingua class?
A typical Music Lingua session lasts 10 to 12 weeks, with classes meeting once a week for 45 minutes. Summer camps vary, but typically meet 3 to 4 hours a day for one week.
- How do I get more information?
Click on Find a Class to find the teacher and classes nearest you. If no one is listed near you, you can go to our Contact Us! link. We'd be happy to answer any questions you may still have or let you know if/when there might be a teacher near you.
Questions about becoming a Music Lingua teacher
- What age of children will I teach?
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Our program is designed specifically for young children from ages infant to around 8 years old, but has been used successfully with older children as well. Young children are most easily able to acquire a second language, and benefit the most from language exposure.
- Do the classes have to be limited to ages 0 - 8?
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You can use the material to teach any age of kids that you feel comfortable with as long as it works for you. We have had 10 yr. olds in some of our after-school classes, who love the program. It depends on the individuals and on how you present the material.
- Are classes designed for different age groups?
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Each unit can be used for all ages. They are thematic (Life on the Farm, Life at Home, etc.) and appeal to all ages of children. Everyone learning a language for the first time needs to learn the same words, so regardless of age all kids will learn basically the same things. Younger kids will pick up mainly the nouns and verbs in each unit (animal names, what they do, colors, numbers, etc.) but older kids will learn faster and will learn more of the functional phrases and “in-between” vocabulary and sentence structure, and the more complicated themes. With each new unit there is new vocabulary to learn, so there is always something new for all kids, even those who have already taken numerous Music Lingua classes.
- What are the Themed "units" like?
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Music Lingua classes are broken into thematic units such as Life on the Pond, African Safari, etc. Each thematic unit comes with a large “Magic Box” of props, a teaching manual with lesson plans, music downloads, and books, and contains plenty of material to teach 10-12 weeks of classes meeting once a week. There is a lot of room for flexibility in this, so a given unit could be condensed or stretched to your schedule. Each unit includes songs pertaining to the theme and season as well as lessons on counting, colors, and other basic vocabulary and phrases. The kid-friendly themes and fun props attract and hold the children's attention, and form a scaffolding for introducing other functional vocabulary.
Everything you need to teach a particular unit comes right to your doorstep in the “Magic Box”. You can get a good feel for our themes by checking out our take-home materials page. Make sure to watch the short video which features samples of the take-home materials from one of our themes. - What’s included with the Take-Home materials?
For each session of classes each family gets:
- a link for our app of the music that will be sung in class that session
- a Music Activity Booklet with coloring pages and the bilingual lyrics for each song
- a Storybook with Audio CD in the same theme, where a native speaker reads the book to the child
- a small themed toy
- It all comes in a Music Lingua bag!
- Do I need to be able to sing well?
No! Being able to sing well is a bonus, but you will play the music on a music device and sing along with it in class, so you can choose to sing more loudly or softly – whatever you’re comfortable with. It’s important that the students hear the songs from the Music Lingua album (as opposed to the teacher singing a Capella), as that is what they have been listening to at home. Therefore when the music starts on the app, they will recognize it right away and often start singing along, which means they’re actually enunciating the words!
- What are the requirements for becoming a Music Lingua teacher?
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The main requirement is that you should be at least comfortably conversational in French, German or Spanish, and speak with a good accent. Children will learn by emulating your sounds as well as the sounds on the music, and their first introduction to the language must be with the best possible accent.
Music Lingua teachers love working with small children. They have the enthusiasm and energy to lead children through fun, fast-paced classes. Since you will usually be singing along with the music, you do not need to have a great singing voice - just lots of enthusiasm!
Music Lingua teachers are independent self-starters, interested in a flexible schedule. They are able to promote, advertise and run their own business. You must be a bit of an entrepreneur, but know that we are available to help you with ideas, suggestions and trouble-shooting as you grow your business.
- What teaching aids will I receive with each unit?
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Each thematic unit comes with the teaching manual for that unit in your language, including the teacher’s copies of the books and music used in that unit, complete lesson plans, and all of the props you'll need to teach the unit. These props are carefully chosen to integrate with the lessons and songs in the theme, helping us to engage the child with lots of comprehensible input. Just as important, they are FUN!
- How much or little will I be able to work?
One of the advantages of being a Music Lingua teacher is the flexibility it affords. As the owner of a Music Lingua business, you are free to teach as much or as little as you like, and on the days of your own choosing. You’re the boss!
- Do I need to teach a minimum number of classes or students each year?
No, you can teach as many or few classes as you like. You can schedule your classes around your life, such as travel or a new baby.
- What kind of person becomes a Music Lingua teacher?
Music Lingua was originally created by bilingual moms who wanted to teach a second language to their children but needed reminders to speak to them in that language. It’s ideal for:
- Moms or dads who would like a flexible part-time job in order to work around their children's schedule
- Preschool teachers and employees make great Music Lingua teachers.
- Students studying foreign languages can increase their employability by becoming a Music Lingua teacher. It offers students a great part time job with flexible hours that can fit around school schedules.
- Anyone who wants to share their language with other children and families and wants a fun, flexible business of his/her own
Music Lingua is a great place to learn to teach a foreign language, since we train you and provide the materials you need to get started teaching. It can be an end in itself, or a stepping-stone for employment in the school systems, allowing you to work in the language field by teaching Music Lingua classes, and develop skills you can use in classrooms everywhere.
- What kind of training does Music Lingua provide to teachers?
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Our online training program can be completed at your own pace in your own home. You will learn general Music Lingua methodology and how to best utilize our music and manipulatives to most effectively teach your lessons. You’ll learn how to teach the lessons in your first thematic unit using our included lesson plans, reducing the need for time-consuming lesson preparations. There are tips on re-directing distracted students and keeping order in the classroom, and plenty of sample song presentations and real-life classroom examples in your training program to guide you. We also cover all aspects of running your Music Lingua business - what types of classes you could offer, how to advertise, where to teach your classes, etc. At the end of the training you should feel confident and prepared to go out and teach your own classes.
Our training program covers all of the topics you need to be successful as a Music Lingua teacher, such as:
- The recognized and accepted teaching methods and theories we've used to develop our Music Lingua Teaching Method.
- How to use Music Lingua music and materials the most effectively to teach your students your language.
- How to present the songs and use all the materials for your first themed unit.
- How to maintain discipline in your classes in a loving manner.
- How to start your own Music Lingua business including advice on what kinds of classes are successful, where to teach classes, tips on advertising and marketing and "getting the word out" and other helpful tips and suggestions to make your business run smoothly.
You should be able to complete the training course in a weekend. Along with the training program, your license includes a "Magic Box" containing your first unit's teaching materials, teaching manuals, lesson plans, music, and books - everything you need to get started!
- Do I need prior teaching experience?
Although a formal background in education is great, it is certainly not mandatory. The Music Lingua training you receive, in conjunction with the teaching materials and training manuals, will give you the skills and confidence to begin teaching your first classes right away.
- Where will I teach my classes?
This depends on factors such as the facilities available in your town and on how many classes you’re able to teach. Museums, libraries, churches, and art or dance studios will often rent space for a few hours each week. If you have a safe, appropriate space in your home you are welcome to hold classes there. When teaching for daycares and schools you will usually teach at their facility.
- Who will take my classes?
More and more parents are becoming aware of the benefits children receive from learning a second language. In addition to offering a fun, effective way to start children learning a foreign language, Music Lingua classes incorporate music, art and other activities into the class time, creating a multi-faceted program that is attractive to parents who care about their children’s future.
A surprising number of native foreign language speakers take Music Lingua classes with their English-speaking children. They have found that their children take little interest in learning their parent’s native tongue until they are in a fun, nurturing environment where other children are learning it too.
Daycares and preschools offer many opportunities for teaching Music Lingua. A preschool which offers a quality foreign language program like Music Lingua has a huge competitive edge over other preschools.
Families who home-school are another source of students, as it is difficult for most parents to acquire enough foreign language skill to effectively teach their own children.
Elementary schools which cannot afford a full-time foreign language teacher may wish to hire a licensed Music Lingua teacher to fulfill their foreign language needs.
- How much do I charge for my classes?
How much you charge is up to you. We recommend that you look at what other, comparable kid’s programs in your community are charging, and charge accordingly. Be sure to take into account that we also include Take-Home materials, which helps the learning continue all week at home.
You can add the cost of the Take-Home materials to your tuition price, or set a rate for the class and add the cost of the materials separately. You purchase the take-home materials directly from us, and you keep the tuition price.
- How much does a Music Lingua license cost?
If you're interested in applying for a Music Lingua license, see more information here.
- Does Music Lingua take a portion of my income?
No, you keep all the income that you earn on your classes.
- How often do I pay dues/fees?
There are no recurring dues or fees with a Music Lingua license once you have purchased it. You simply purchase a new unit when you are ready to teach one. Just before your new session begins you order the Take-Home materials for the students in your classes.
- Are there teaching opportunities available in my area?
Most likely! Second language learning for kids has become more and more popular with parents. The many scientific studies on the benefits of language learning are more well-known and parents are actively seeking Music Lingua teachers. We license and train teachers across the country, so contact us if you’d like more information about starting a program in your area.
- How do I get more information?
Contact us! We'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.
