Foreign Language Fun » Danish

Scholarships Available to Concordia Language Villages

Diane — Tue, 12 May 2009 02:37:59 +0000

For years, I have recommended Concordia Language Villages to my students. These summer immersion camps are absolutely amazing. A number of years ago, I had the good fortune of participating in Concordia’s Teacher Seminars and earning graduate credit. I spent three weeks in Minnesota learning about immersion techniques and visiting the Villages. I came home with a treasure trove of games, songs, and hands-on activities that I observed at the French Village, Lac du Bois. I also spent a day in the Norwegian Village, experiencing the life of a camper who does not know a word of the language. (THE most fun! When I wanted to eat, I learned fast.) In all, there are villages offering instruction in 15 different languages. While in a village, campers are completely immersed in the target culture. Villagers go through customs, exchange their money, and are surrounded by language. Don’t even get me started on the authentic cuisine . . . soooo delicious!

My students who have spent a few weeks at Concordia Language Villages return to school in the fall with improved language skills and enthusiastic stories to tell.

Scholarships are available to send some lucky campers to Concordia Language Villages this summer. The photo and essay contests are open to students ages 7-18, but the deadlines are quickly approaching. (Most end on May 15.) Visit this link to find out how to apply for scholarships worth $500-$1300 to the French, German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, or Danish Villages.

Good luck!

Photo Credit: clarita at http://morguefile.com/archive/display/231612

How to Say Chocolate in Fourteen Languages for Valentine’s Day

Diane — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 02:55:38 +0000

In honor of Valentine’s Day–February 14–let’s learn fourteen ways to say that magical word: CHOCOLATE!

French: chocolat

Spanish: chocolate

Italian: cioccolato

German: Schokolade

Dutch: chocolade

Portuguese: chocolate

Esperanto: cokolado

Danish: chokolade

Polish: czekolada

Swedish: choklad

Indonesian: coklat

Maltese: cikkulata

Norwegian: sjokolad

Finnish: suklaa

Be sure to check out a unique download for Spanish Learners: The History of Chocolate for Spanish I Students: Spanish I students in grades 7 to 12 will love learning about chocolate’s fascinating history while they learn or practice preterite, past tense verbs. This unit fuses the ACTFL C’s of culture, connections, & communication. Included are a bililngual vocabulary & verb list, a short Spanish reading on chocolate’s origins, post-reading activities, student to student conversational activities, writing activities, and internet video and site recommendations.

Happy Chocolate Day!

Photo Credit: by Linnell Esler at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/452631

Say Thank You in Many Languages This Thanksgiving

Diane — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:44:13 +0000

When I think of Thanksgiving, my mind goes to turkey and pumpkin pie, parades and football. Of course, the real reason is to give thanks to God for all that He has given us. On this special holiday, I’d like to say Thank You in as many ways and as many languages as I can. I’m sure to leave out many languages, so please comment with additional ones and continue the list of thanks!

Dankie (Afrikaans)

Shukran (Arabic)

Dekuji (Czech)

Tak (Danish)

Dank u wel (Dutch)

Dankon (Esperanto)

Kiitos (Finnish)

Merci (French)

Danke (German)

Mahalo (Hawaiian)

Toda (Hebrew)

Shukriya (Hindi)

Takk (Icelandic)

Grazie (Italian)

Arigato (Japanese)

Grazzi (Maltese)

Xie xie (Mandarin Chinese)

Dziekuje (Polish)

Multumesc (Romanian)

Spasibo (Russian)

Gracias (Spanish)

Ahsante (Swahili)

Tack (Swedish)

Photo Credit: by cidinha28 at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/772189