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About Us
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About Us
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We build cultural bridges by teaching young children foreign languages through music and movement.

What is Bilingual Birdies?

Bilingual Birdies is an early childhood bilingual education program for children birth through age six and the adults who love them! Founded in New York City in 2006, we are the first to combine music, movement, and puppetry in a play-based curriculum to engage children as they increase their vocabulary and celebrate diversity in every class! Parent materials are provided for all enrolled families to keep the learning process going outside of class. We currently teach thousands of children in 25 cities across the US, Canada, Australia, Latin America, and the Middle East through our teacher certification program. Our hope is that future generations will learn that bilingualism is a path to greater opportunity, increased compassion for others, and a way to grow into a more open-minded adult. Day by day we’re igniting a bilingual education movement that all are welcome to join.


Founded in 2006 by
Sarah Farzam Manzanilla

Sarah Farzam Manzanilla is the Founder and CEO of Bilingual Birdies. Sarah is half Mexican and half Iranian and grew up speaking Spanish, Farsi and English. She’s from L.A. and graduated from UCLA with a BA in English. From there Sarah moved to Mexico City and later NYC where she taught high school for a year before getting the idea to start her own educational company when she was only 24 years old. A lover of music, language, and culture, her intention was and still is to create a space where children can learn languages and celebrate diversity. As a daughter of immigrants, Sarah understands how important language is and how having access to language education can transform your world. Her parents met in Northern California in an English as a Second Language class in college and she grew up knowing first hand the many benefits of being bilingual. Today as a trilingual entrepreneur she continues to dedicate her life to providing the highest quality in bilingual education curriculum in honor of her parents, family, and entire early childhood community across borders.


Join the Best Bilingual Teaching Community

Are you bilingual in Spanish, French, or English? Become a teacher and join our team! Bilingual people who love children are being trained and certified in the Bilingual Birdies methodology so they can launch their own Bilingual Birdies business and earn money teaching from home. Whether you’re a former teacher, bilingual babysitter, musician (although you don’t have to be one), or come from a whole other field, teaching is an amazing career path or side hustle. Our team of expert bilingual educators have developed an easy to learn methodology that is rooted in music, movement, puppetry and FUN!


Birdies Giving Back

In 2016 Bilingual Birdies was invited to be a part of a cultural exchange with Little Ray of Hope, a two-room informal preschool in Kawangware, Nairobi, Kenya, a program spearheaded by the visionary Evelyn Waneloba whose tireless efforts change children's lives and create community-wide impact in Nariobi's second largest slum. This international cultural exchange informed all of our work in the early childhood classroom. And now, Little Ray of Hope is our first international sister school. Watch our journey and join us in our support of their education, healthcare, food, and overall well-being. Sponsorship opportunities are available to help our little friends in Kawangware by visiting: www.littlerayofhopeschool.com


Latest News

Benefits of Learning A Language Online

Of course we all miss and love “in person.” I too long for the days of hugs and high fives before and after classes…