Presidio Knolls School provides a unique educational experience for our children, combining progressive educational best practices with a Mandarin immersion environment.  Our goal is to cultivate globally aware and socially responsible leaders with a lifelong passion for learning.

Why Language Immersion?

Acquiring a second (or third or fourth) language is a critical foundational skill for success in a rapidly changing, globalized world. ”Multilinguals, therefore, are not restricted to a single world-view, but also have a better understanding that other outlooks are possible. Indeed, this has always been seen as one of the main educational advantages of language teaching.” (Michał B. Paradowski, Institute of Applied Linguistics)

Also, research has shown that bilingualism actually accelerates and strengthens neural development. Actively using two languages builds more synaptic connections and exercises more areas of the brain.  Research also demonstrates that language immersion does not delay the development of English skills, and may actually accelerate it.  “There is absolutely no evidence that bilingual acquisition leads to confusion, and there is no evidence that bilingual acquisition leads to delay.” (Janet Werker, University of British Columbia)

For more information, we recommend this language immersion digest from the Center for Applied Linguistics.

Why Mandarin?

We believe Mandarin is a wise investment for early language acquisition. With the rise of China on the global stage, Mandarin is becoming a critical language for conducting business from Shangai to San Francisco, and Mandarin proficiency will be a significant advantage in the 21st century.

Moreover, Mandarin is quite distinct from western languages, with its tonality and its written characters. It is very easy for young children to acquire such a different language, but it can be significantly more challenging for teenagers and adults. To cultivate multilingualism, it makes sense to build Mandarin skills in early childhood, and then add a Western language such as Spanish or French at a later stage, such as in middle school, high school or college.

For more information, we recommend the Mandarin Immersion Parents Council FAQ.

Why a Progressive Approach?

Many of us grew up attending schools where we spent much of our time sitting at desks listening to teachers and memorizing facts and figures.  But research has shown that traditional educational methods have fallen short in many ways, particularly in a rapidly changing, globalized world.  Ensuring our children are set up to succeed academically, socially and emotionally requires a fundamental rethinking of education practices.

Studies prove that children learn best when they are fully engaged with the material and with each other, rather than passively listening to an instructor.  PKS students learn in a hands-on collaborative environment with their teachers and peers. The curriculum uses a topic-based approach, combining individual and group projects to give children the opportunity to delve into the material deeply, build essential academic and social skills, and develop an understanding of their own learning styles.

This is done using proven methods based on education, cognitive and developmental research. PKS continuously evolves to incorporate new research-based improvements and best practices to deliver a world-class educational experience now and in the future.