Spanish Immersion

Friends Select Pre-K — Philadelphia

As part of their preschool curriculum, Friends Select offers a World Languages immersion, where students study Spanish or Mandarin. Students learn language, writing, and pronunciation as well as explore art, literature, and cultural experiences. While you do not have to continue on through to the Friends Select Elementary school, the World Languages learnings of the school will build upon what is learned in Pre-K.

Mi Casita — Philadelphia and Ardmore

Mi Casita offers a total Spanish immersion learning environment for children aged 1-5. Through crafts, games, reading, and other cultural experiences, your child will gain an enriched bilingual education. The school uses complete Spanish immersion in their program. Available schedules are 2-5 days a week.

Spanish Workshop for Children — Philadelphia, Bryn Mawr, and Blue Bell

Offering Spanish immersion classes for children, as well as immersive classes for parents to join with younger children. Language development occurs through integrating storytelling, dramatic play, movement, art, and music into the course. Preschool children are encouraged to develop second language skills as they explore their world in Spanish. You can sign up for one-hour classes, or three-hour (half day) classes. Offered Monday through Friday, you can take one to three sessions a week. Classes are also available for children up to 10 years of age.

Amigos — Philadelphia

This Center City Spanish immersion program accepts children ages 1-6 for programming with a focused on play-based learning. All teachers are native Spanish speakers, and all lessons, interactions, songs, books, and games are in Spanish.

Vamonos — Horsham, Warminster, and Doylestown

This curriculum is unique in its approach of individual learning, with a focus on all the different ways that children learn. The curriculum at Vamonos includes enrichment programs such as sign language for infants, babies who can read, baby yoga and massage, fitness, music, and soccer. At the same time Vamonos provides bilingual immersion through a dual language curriculum that allows children to learn Spanish by introducing the language and culture naturally in their environment. The school serves infants up to five years old, and afterschool enrichment is also available.

French

French International School of Philadelphia ​— Bala Cynwyd

Children can begin learning French at this school around age 3, and can continue through to Pre-K and beyond into elementary school. The preschool program is dual-language, using both English and French in the classroom. The school teaches through songs, game, art, creative play, movement, and planned lessons. Most of the day is spent with a native French-speaker with support from an English-speaking teacher.

Petite École Bilingue Preschool — Philadelphia

This French and English preschool provides partial immersion language building in an environment that offers students the chance to explore language through music, play, and games. The school expects children to learn fluency in both languages as well as cultural appreciation. The French curriculum follows the guidelines of the école maternelle established by the French Ministry of National Education. The preschool is open for children 2.5 through 5 years of age.

Mandarin

Philadelphia Chinese Academy — Philadelphia

This preschool is Montessori based, so that students receive the benefits of both language immersion and the Montessorri approach to learning, which focuses on each individual child and their learning process. Fees also cover costs for lunch and snacks. 

YingHua International School — Princeton, NJ

Programs run through eighth grade, starting with classes for two year olds. Classes are taught completely in Mandarin Chinese. Songs, stories, writing, and drawing round out a rich day of learning and play that also includes science and math activities.

German

Immanuel  German School — Huntingdon Valley

Starting with Pre-K, children are taught German through song, play, games, and cultural celebrations. Immanuel German School runs through grade 6, so that students can build on the language lessons learned in Pre-K. If you only stay for the Pre-K year, you can expect your child to come away with basic German skills.  

Photo via Vamonos

Writer Hillary Moses Mohaupt contributed to an update to this article in 2024.