¿Habla español?

Even grade schoolers can talk the talk

For 20 minutes each day, fourth- and fifth-graders in Sandra Rosado's class at Perkins Elementary in St. Petersburg, Florida, aren't allowed to speak—in English, that is.

But they hardly miss it.

Although foreign language study typically doesn't begin until high school, "it's remarkable how much [my students] learn and love Spanish," says Rosado, who developed a Spanish language program for her students 11 years ago.

And she's not the only one. Similar elementary programs are taking off nationally, notes Mary Lynn Redmond, a Wake Forest University associate education professor. Part of the reason is America's new interest in life abroad. "There is this realization that international education is increasingly important…especially when it comes to business and national security," Redmond says.

In addition, new research shows foreign language study in elementary school helps develop thinking and listening skills, which is, in a word, excelente!

—Mary Robbins