On Sunday, May 17, CFI Robotics hosted a special Dual Language STEAM Night at the CFI Robotics Center, bringing families together for an evening of robotics, language, and hands-on learning.

This session was especially meaningful because it brought two dual-language learning experiences together under one roof. Families could join either the Spanish and English station or the Chinese and English station, while all students worked on the same STEAM project together.

Dual Language STEAM Night is dedicated to learning in more than one language. It is guided by the mission of giving students and parents from multilingual homes a shared project to build, test, and learn from together. Instead of separating language learning from STEM learning, this program brings them together in a natural and meaningful way.

During the workshop, families worked side by side to build and program LEGO robots. Students practiced problem-solving, engineering, and communication while using vocabulary in English, Spanish, or Chinese. Parents were not just watching from the side. They were part of the project, helping students think through the challenge, test ideas, and celebrate each improvement.

One of the most powerful parts of Dual Language STEAM Night is seeing families work together across languages. Students can learn new STEAM words in English while also connecting those ideas to the language they use at home. Parents can support the learning process, ask questions, and build alongside their children.

This creates a different kind of classroom. It is not only about building robots. It is about building confidence, family connection, and pride in multilingual learning.

Learning Together Under One Roof

This session showed what is possible when multiple language communities learn together in the same space.

At one station, families explored STEAM through Spanish and English. At the other station, families explored the same project through Chinese and English. Although each station had its own language support, the room shared one purpose: families learning, building, and discovering together.

In many ways, this event brought two Dual Language STEAM Nights together in one room. Spanish-speaking families, Chinese-speaking families, English-speaking families, teachers, students, and parents all worked under the same roof on one shared robotics challenge.

The workshop gave students a chance to see that science and engineering belong in every language. It also gave parents a chance to be part of the learning process in a comfortable and welcoming environment.

Students Built, Coded, Tested, and Improved

Students practiced important STEAM skills throughout the workshop. They built LEGO robots, programmed their motors, tested how their robots moved, and made changes based on what happened.

The activity gave students a simple but powerful engineering process:

• Build the robot

• Program the robot

• Test the robot

• Notice what happened

• Make an improvement

• Test again

This process helps students learn that engineering is not about getting everything right on the first try. It is about learning from each test and using that information to make the next design better.

Students also practiced communication and reflection. They used worksheets to record ideas, track results, and explain what changed during the activity.

Parents as Learning Partners

A key part of Dual Language STEAM Night is that parents and students complete the project together.

For students from multilingual homes, this matters. Students may use one language at school, another language at home, and both languages when learning with family. Dual Language STEAM Night turns that experience into a strength.

The program helps students:

• Build STEAM vocabulary in more than one language

• Connect school learning with home language and culture

• Work with parents on a shared project

• Build confidence in robotics and engineering

• See multilingual learning as something valuable

For parents, the program creates a welcoming space where they can learn with their children and be active participants in STEAM education. Parents are not only observing the class. They are building, testing, asking questions, and celebrating success with their children.

A Special Visit from the JCCC Foundation

This session also included a special visit from members of the JCCC Foundation Board, who attended and observed the class.

We were grateful to welcome them into the room and show how their support is helping bring Dual Language STEAM Night to life. Their visit gave them a chance to see families learning together, students engaging with robotics, and multilingual instruction happening in real time.

The support from the JCCC Foundation has helped make this program possible, and we are thankful for their commitment to educational programs that support student growth, cultural understanding, and family engagement.

Thank You to Our Families and Team

Thank you to all of the families who joined us for this special night. Your energy, teamwork, and curiosity made the evening a success.

We also want to thank our teachers, volunteers, and youth leaders who helped guide families through the activity, support both language stations, and make the workshop welcoming for everyone.

Dual Language STEAM Night continues to grow because of the families, teachers, volunteers, and community partners who believe that STEAM education should be hands-on, inclusive, and connected to the languages and cultures students bring with them.

Next Dual Language STEAM Night

Our next Dual Language STEAM Night will take place in July.

More details will be shared soon, and we look forward to welcoming families back for another evening of robotics, language, and family learning.

About the JCCC Foundation Grant

Dual Language STEAM Night is supported by a 2025 Student Development and Achievement Grant from the JCCC Foundation. This grant helps CFI Robotics provide free family STEAM programming that combines robotics, language learning, and cultural connection.

Through this support, CFI is able to offer hands-on LEGO Robotics activities where students and parents learn together in English and a partner language. The program is designed to strengthen STEAM learning, language development, family engagement, and community connection.

CFI Robotics is deeply grateful to the JCCC Foundation for supporting this work and helping make Dual Language STEAM Night possible for multilingual families.