Bilingual Birdies Asheville

"We have been a part of the Bilingual Birdies Asheville classes since they began and absolutely LOVE it. Started with my daughter at just over a year old and she is now two and a half. It is amazing how much she has learned and grown -- class is definitely a highlight of our week! The program differs from other children's music programs in the area because it incorporates language, music, dance, and puppetry all in one! The educators come with amazing backgrounds both in working with children and as musicians. The community support within the class is such a beautiful part of it; because there is a range of ages it is fun to see how the older children support the younger ones and how the younger ones look up to and follow the older children. The content (music, themes, language, and dance) have all naturally expanded beyond the class sessions and into our daily lives. As an educator myself, I appreciate every aspect of this program and will happily champion for it to continue to grow in this town. A truly special opportunity for area families!"

"We have loved Bilingual Birdies! We’ve gone to both French and Spanish classes and have always had a great experience. The teachers are so engaging with all ages of children and create an inclusive and fun environment. Both Šara and Dani are amazing teachers. If you’re looking for a bilingual music class, look no further!"

"These classes are so amazing! I've attended both the French and Spanish classes with my two little ones, and the teachers are truly next-level. They are talented professional musicians, native or native-level speakers of French and Spanish, and have this magical way with kiddos that is gentle, engaging, playful, and supportive. The woman who runs the program (Šara Strovanosky) is phenomenal. she has a PhD in Performance and Cultural Studies and is a total kid-whisperer, and you can see her wealth of experience in everything she does. The space where they teach is super charming and they have amazing props to support the educational aspects and make it all super fun for the little ones. I've seen my two boys benefit so much from these classes; not only do they come away with language skills, but they learn how to participate in group creative processes and they gain confidence in group settings. It has been such a treat to take these classes alongside them. It's great for a range of ages (mine were 1 and 3 when we started). Of all the ways I have chosen to spend my time and resources in helping my kids to develop, this is hands down the biggest pay-off!"

"Amazing program and teacher! I took my son (2 year old) to the French program instructed by Šara. The age and participation range in the class varied from barely crawling to active little kids. All were engaged with and Sara included everyone in the activities, The songs were all original for Bilingual Birdies and we received a puppet for our kids as part of the program. There are also downloadable booklets and songs for at-home engagement. My son loves the "bonjour" song and when I sing it at home, he starts listing all his friends to make sure I say "hello" to them all. Sara is animated and engaging with the children. Her love for music, children, language, and community really shine! There are several variations for the classes, so as your take more, the songs and materials update, keeping things fresh. I have signed up for my second course and am looking forward to continuing further. I am so glad a bilingual program came to Asheville and am excited to see they are expanding into Spanish too!"