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Foreign Language Experience Program (FLEX)

FLEX Summer Language Camps

The FLEX program will offer a variety of one-week summer language camps at four FCPS elementary schools. These camps are ideal for current FLEX students or newcomers who want to discover fun with languages. Children can begin or continue their world language learning while enjoying crafts, music, and activities, and sharing their experience with new friends.

Most camps are from 9 am to noon; German Immersion* is from 10 am – 1 pm. Tuition is $179 per student. Languages include Chinese, French, German, and Spanish for beginning language learners in grades K - 6 during the 2011-2012 school year. Register online.

Please download required FCPS Emergency Care Form. This form is used during the summer session and is required at the first class.

Island Creek	Grade	Dates	Times
French	1 – 6	August 6 - 10	9 am - 12 pm
Spanish	K – 1	August 6 - 10	9 am - 12 pm
Spanish	2 – 6	August 6 – 10	9 am - 12 pm
Oak View ES	Grade	Dates	Times
Chinese	1 – 6	July 30 – August 3	9 am - 12 pm
German	1 – 6	July 30 – August 3	9 am - 12 pm
Spanish	K – 1	July 30 – August 3	9 am - 12 pm
Spanish	2 – 6	July 30 – August 3	9 am - 12 pm
Orange Hunt ES	Grade	Dates	Times
German Immersion*	2 – 6	July 16 – 20	10 am - 1 pm
French	1 – 6	July 16 – 20	9 am - 12 pm
Spanish	K – 1	July 16 – 20	9 am - 12 pm
Spanish	2 – 6	July 16 – 20	9 am - 12 pm
Chinese	1 – 6	July 23 – 27	9 am - 12 pm
German Immersion*	K – 3	July 23 – 27	10 am - 1 pm
Stenwood ES	Grade	Dates	Times
Spanish	2 – 6	August 6 – 10	9 am - 12 pm
Spanish	K – 1	August 6 – 10	9 am - 12 pm
Chinese	1 – 6	August 13 – 17	9 am - 12 pm
French	1 – 6	August 13 - 17	9 am - 12 pm

After-School FLEX

FLEX is an after-school world language enrichment program for elementary school children. Through stories, games, activities, and music, children experience a world language and its culture.

• Goals of the FLEX program
• Program model
• FLEXtra Exploring Spanish Heritage
• Enrollment procedures
• FLEX Emergency Form (required at first class)
• FLEX fall camp 2011 photos
• Instructor and volunteer opportunities

What are the goals of the FLEX program?

• Capture the optimal time in a child's life for learning another language.
• Learn basic foreign language vocabulary and phrases.
• Gain an understanding and knowledge of other cultures and countries.

What is FLEXtra Exploring Spanish Heritage

As a student in Spanish Heritage FLEXtra, your child will receive an introduction to Spanish heritage culture. Children will learn through many hands-on, student-centered activities in art, design, dance, and music. The course is intended for grades 2 through 6 children who have had some prior exposure to the Spanish language; vocabulary is applied in each lesson. Children in the FLEX or FLES programs would be a good fit for this course. Students will not receive grades. Instructors will send home a narrative report at the end of the class.

The course is offered as a 10-hour or a 15-hour program with students meeting for one hour each week before or after school. Students explore the culture of a variety of Spanish-speaking regions including Spain, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru. Architecture, dance, ancient artwork, and clothing design are featured activities.

Interested in bringing FLEXtra to your school?
Contact Joy Raftelis at 703-658-1291 or e-mail: joyia.raftelis@fcps.edu

What is the program model?

FLEX classes are held before or after school once or twice a week. Each class meets for one hour. Sessions can be from 10-30 weeks long, depending on the wishes of the individual school.

FLEX offers classes in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Hindi, and American Sign Language (ASL). All schools do not offer all languages.

Class levels include kindergarten, grades 1-3, and grades 4-6. There is a maximum of 15 children in a class. FLEX PTA representatives organize the classes at the school level following the guidance of the FLEX specialist and the guidelines of Fairfax County Public Schools, Adult and Community Education.

FLEX fall camp 2011 photos

What are the enrollment procedures for FLEX?

FLEX classes and registrations are organized and handled at individual elementary schools by the FLEX PTA representative. Most children who attend FLEX classes are enrolled in the school. However, FLEX classes are open to children from private schools or home-schooled children, but parents must provide transportation. If a FLEX program is not offered at a particular school in Fairfax County, contact the FLEX office for information on how to start one.

Parents of FCPS students may register online. After registering your child, please complete the FLEX Emergency Form . Give the completed form to your child’s FLEX instructor on the first day of class.

Contact Joy Raftelis at joyia.raftelis@fcps.edu or 703-658-1291 for paper registration procedures.

Instructor and Volunteer Opportunities

Instructor Opportunities

• Do you speak a second language? Do you have time before and after school hours? Become a FLEX Instructor.
  
• No teaching certification in the subject area required.
  
• Paid position.

Volunteer Opportunities

• Volunteer at your elementary school to become a FLEX PTA representative.
• You do not need to speak a second language to be a FLEX PTA representative.