Concordia Language Villages
Encyclopedia : C : CO : CON : Concordia Language Villages
Concordia Language Villages is an internationally recognized and respected world-language and -culture education program, whose mission is to prepare young people-- the "villagers"-- for responsible citizenship in our global community. Begun in 1961, the Language Villages annually serves 9,500 young people, aged 7-18, from all 50 of the United States, Canada, and 24 other countries. Concordia Language Villages has long been a model of quality and innovative programming in immersion education and currently offers sessions in 14 languages: Arabic, Chinese, Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. Year-round programs are also available for adults, elderhostelers, families, teachers, and school groups. Four high school credit abroad programs are offered, in France, Germany, Japan, and Spain.
There are six architecturally and culturally authentic village sites (Finnish, French, German, Norwegian, and Russian) in Bemidji, and culturally authentic villages at several other sites throughout Minnesota, as well as Savannah, Georgia, Switzerland, and China. Concordia Language Villages is sponsored by Concordia College of Moorhead, Minn., a private four-year liberal arts college.
Simulations play a major role in giving villagers the opportunity to experience historic events and situations in international affairs that affect world peace. Examples have included world religions, children’s rights, and tolerance. Comfort with the language, open-mindedness, and awareness of world citizenship are core values taught at Concordia Language Villages. Villagers learn these important values daily, bit by bit, experience by experience.
A typical day at one of the Villages (each named "Lake of the Woods" in their respective language, the English and Arabic language villages excepted) includes cultural and typical summer camp activities. Villagers might go canoeing, create art projects, play African drums, practice yoga, play ping-pong, or make a film-- all in the target language. Each moment is used to teach the language. Camp songs and daily skits are an integral part of the village experience, as are jokes, games, and weekend dances-- fun is taken seriously at Concordia.
Names of the villages
Arabic: Al-WāḥaChinese: Sen Lin Hu (森林湖)
Danish: Skovsøen
English: Hometown, USA or Hometown, Europe
Finnish: Salolampi
French: Lac du Bois or Les Voyageurs
Italian: Lago del Bosco
Japanese: Mori no Ike (森の池)
Korean: Sup sogǔi Hosu (숲 속의 호수)
Russian: Lesnoe Ozero
Spanish: El Lago del Bosque
Swedish: Sjölunden
External link
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