We are delighted to welcome the bespoke language immersion program, Beehive Mind, to the Museum this summer. Children interested in acquiring (or improving) their skills in either Spanish or Mandarin will have the opportunity to do just that during a series of intensive weeklong programs. The company’s founder, Lu Zhou, was kind enough to share what makes Beehive Mind different, why foreign language skills are so important, and her favorite spots on the East End.
How would you describe Beehive Mind’s teaching philosophy?
We’ve pioneered experiential language learning by utilizing different games and project-based activities. Our method encourages intrinsic motivation and our activities are thoughtfully designed to be fun and engaging. We have designed our summer program by incorporating the Museum’s amazing setting which truly provides campers a unique experience to learn a foreign language. Learning a foreign language should not be difficult or painful, as we never felt the pain for our mother language, so we shy away from simple muscle memorization. Instead, we offer a beautifully designed experience for our campers. Furthermore, our program is tailored to different levels so that are able to teach both beginners and those with a little more experience simultaneously.
Why is learning a foreign language such a vital skill for students?
First and foremost, it stretches your brain…this is especially important for young children as the brain are going through rapid growth. Learning a foreign language can actually help to improve core academic learning as well. At Beehive Mind, we are nurturing the future’s young leaders. It’s especially important for them to understand and appreciate new/other cultures in addition to their own.
What can students expect from your Spanish- and Mandarin-language immersion camps this summer?
It will be a fun, immersive, and very very exotic experience. We will have a showcase at the end of every week and our daily schedule will be released in May.
What would you say to a student who thinks she or he just can’t learn another language?
Have you tried Beehive Mind?
What’s your favorite part of the Hamptons during the summer?
As a mother of three young kids, Flying Point beach is our absolute favorite. We have conducted much nature-themed learning through different activities such as paddle boarding, kayaking, and outdoor exploration. We have gone on long walks where we didn’t expect to with no food and very little water…talk about resilience and team-building! Nature is the best teacher after all.