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Acquire a second language at a young age, do it through immersion and not just lessons, learn through structured
play and in a children's (not just adult/home) environment,
be consistent - this is the way to bilingualism in later life.

* Ofsted registered NURSERY SCHOOL (0/2 - 5 year olds)
* SCHOOL and studios (4.5 - 11\14 year olds)
Please also go to UPDATE section for more info

Azbuka NURSERY (age 2-5) -
the first specialist Russian nursery school in London, from 2002

We offer two things in one:

1. A creative approach to early years education - your child gets a good start in all areas of development - physical, social and emotional, communication and language, creative and mathematical. Creative structural play is the basis of our nursery programme. We are an OFSTED registered nursery school.
2. A background (that lasts for life) in the Russian language.

So what do we do at Azbuka? We discover the world, we experiment with different materials and techniques, we learn through play, we introduce children to music and sounds, we dance and experiment with movements, we develop physically, we act, we perform, we sing, we enjoy theatre and puppet shows, we create, we read, we play games, we ask questions and learn to think, we go on excursions and outings, we rest, we eat, we develop socially, we learn and we have fun - "we don't learn Russian - we learn through play - in Russian".
And visiting teachers and volunteers - they are fun! At the moment our programme incorporates teaching of dance and movement by a visiting teacher (once a week). This session includes ballet, jazz, and contemporary basics.
Our parents are very much involved in the programme, which kids and teachers always appreciate.

Whether you've got Russian support at home or not, your child will acquire the language by being immersed in the language environment with their classmates and peers on a daily basis. REMEMBER - when learning a minority laguage - the children's environment can never be replaced by just the adult language environment. Even if your child has a parent or nanny speaking Russian, what the child needs (in terms of wanting to speak the language) is a group of other children learning and speaking the same language on a regular basis.

The easiest and the most spontaneous way to get an active background in any language is through language immersion at an early age.
Language immersion is particularly effective at a pre-school age.
Once your child starts the majority language at school (English - in this case) it will dominate very quickly.
If you don't concentrate on the minority language at pre-school (up to 6/7 - in the UK 5) - your child might loose his full bilingual potential. If you don't concentrate on Russian before school your child might loose the best chance to attain fluent Russian/English bilingualism.
Don't miss this vital pre-school age!

AZBUKA Nursery School is based near Richmond station in West London,
and operates on a full time (3 sessions a week)
school term time basis. In 2007-8 - Tue/Wed/Fri sessions full programme. AZBUKA Nursery
now operates a waiting list. Please contact office for details.

To join AZBUKA Nursery for further details please contact us
to make an appointment to visit the school. Please choose one of the following:

• fill in this on-line form
• e-mail us with your name, address and contact details, stating your request
• call us on 0781 001 3042 with your name, address and contact details, stating your request
• write to us with your name, address and contact details, stating your request:
  AZBUKA, Russian Language Nursery/School and Kids' Club (corresp.only)
  1 Copthall Gardens
  Twickenham, TW1 4HH
  England

Those who join AZBUKA Nursery automatically become members of the AZBUKA Kids' Club.

SCHOOL (age 4.5-11/14 ) and Studios

• The school is designed for children between the ages of
  4.5 to11/14 who already have good/established Russian language
  skills. The school is based on a SPECIALIST structured
  language immersion programme to keep up the children’s
  Russian language skills within a bilingual context.

  We (Azbuka School):

  
  • use a specially devised teaching programme, developed based on the best ideas and methodology known today to keep up an active second language within a bilingual environment;
  • support all levels of Russian:
  • spoken and the primary level - Language
  • reading - Literacy
  • writing - Literacy
  • run full Russian language immersion programme through a serious of structured teaching blocks:
  • assembly
  • active spoken language, reading and writing teaching lessons-blocks
  • Studio block – incorporating all levels of language
  • play-time
  • lunch and language immersion/general conversation
  • homework structural programme designed to carry on AZBUKA language immersion programme from Mon-Fri.
  • AZBUKA Club cultural events
  • After school studios (Dance and Illustration in 2008-9) provides the opportunity of even more language immersion
    
    Creative STUDIO Block (compulsory): In a minority language situation children do not just need rules of grammar (literacy lessons) to want and be able to communicate in Russian (or any other language) - to learn to love the language and culture and be comfortable in their bicultural identity. What they need is an exciting situation-room-to practise the language and culture - an oasis where they live in Russian. That room - is AZBUKA Studio, where children start using "in real life" Russian language and literacy. The way it is done is through a termly cultural project - theatre production, film, animation, a book, art project etc - that is created at AZBUKA by the children themselves and where they can speak, read and write - "live" in Russian.
  • employ qualified and experienced staff (Russian language/bilingualism specialists and native speakers)
  • meet all key health and safety requirements
  • provide strong support for parents (advice, teaching support on curriculum & methodology, homework)
    
    
    

  Key Facts2009-2010:

  • Location - From September 2010 the address will change!
    Twickenham, West London (BR: St. Margarets (BR) or Richmond: District Line/National Rail); Full address: St Mary’s Primary School, Richmond Road, TW1 3BA
    (By appointment only please)
  • Hours of operation
    Spring, summer, autumn terms
    Saturdays 10.00 to 14:30 + optional after school studio (15.00 - 16.30)
  • Fees
    Paid termly (please contact office for current fees)
  • Admission
    Children with active spoken Russian or children who have attended Azbuka nursery
    
    AZBUKA School is based in West London and operates on Saturdays (10 - 14.30)
    and after school Dance studio (15.00 -16.30pm)
    
    To join AZBUKA School for further details please contact us to make an appointment
    to visit the school or come to our open day. Please choose one of the following:
     
     
     
    

• fill in this on-line form
• e-mail us with your name, address and contact details, stating your request
• call us on 0781 001 3042 with your name, address and contact details, stating your request
• write to us with your name, address and contact details, stating your request
  AZBUKA, Russian Language Nursery/School and Kids' Club (corresp.only)
  1 Copthall Gardens
  Twickenham, TW1 4HH
  England

Those who join AZBUKA School automatically become members of the AZBUKA Kids' Club.