Calling all kids, both big and small! Lango Pittsburgh, a franchise of a national foreign language program based in San Francisco, will host a free class in Mandarin at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Sewickley Public Library.

Thursday's demo class is part of Lango's grand opening in Pittsburgh. Beginning in January at various area locations, Lango will hold classes in French, Spanish and Mandarin for children.

Lango proponents believe children learn quickly and naturally at a young age. Also, some studies suggest the best time to learn a second language is while learning a first language.

"From birth to age 7 is a magic window when children's brains can process new sounds and acquire an authentic accent in more than one language," said Kyndra King, owner and program director of Lango Pittsburgh.

Children of all ages still learn at a rapid pace, which is why Lango offers classes to children ages 18 months to 11 years.

Classes are divided by age groups. There are toddler and parent classes, preschool classes and elementary classes. Depending on the number of students enrolled, elementary classes may be broken into more specific age groups as well. Each class takes place once a week for 10 weeks, and most start in January.

"During the classes, your child will become very familiar with common phrases in a foreign language," King said. "They are all generally full-immersion classes, with very little English translation. The repetitiveness is what helps children learn."

Research has shown that learning another language helps children succeed in school, express themselves creatively, and better understand other cultures, she said.

While Lango offers Spanish, French and Mandarin classes, King has found that Mandarin classes are in highest demand among parents in Pittsburgh.

"I was surprised," she said. "I would've expected that Spanish classes would be the most popular, but I know that China has such a great impact on technology and the world's economy. Parents understand that and want their children to be able to communicate with others in a world that has become so global."

King emphasized that all Lango classes are conducted by a native or fluent speaker of the language. She also advises parents that their participation and reinforcement of class materials at home is necessary for their child's learning success. Parents of children under age 3 stay for the duration of each class, which allows them to learn alongside their kids.

While a 10-week class session gets children started, King encourages continuous enrollment in classes and summer camps if parents want their child to become bilingual.

"When you start learning a language early in life and stick with it, it truly becomes a part of you forever," she said. "It also gives you a lifelong appreciation for learning about languages and other cultures."

For more information about Thursday's demo class or Lango classes, call the library at 412.741.6920 or visit www.langopittsburgh.com.