| Hometown,
Europe,
the English Language Program of Concordia Language Villages
located in Leysin, Switzerland , offers youth between the
ages of 11 and 18 the opportunity to learn English in a
structured, yet informal, environment.
Students and staff live for two-weeks in
student residences at the Leysin American School in Switzerland,
approximately 90 minutes east by car from Geneva, Switzerland.
Sleeping rooms house three participants each. Common rooms
and computer labs for language-learning activities are available
for student use.
The student-to-staff ratio is 5-to-1, ensuring plenty of
opportunity for students to speak and hear English. Staff
are predominantly native speakers of English. Staff members
are American professionals with degrees and experience in
teaching English to non-native speakers. In 2003, Hometown,
Europe villagers represented countries across Europe including;
Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain,
and Switzerland.
Modeled after the internationally known and respected Language
Villages of Concordia College in Minnesota, USA, Hometown
Europe features:
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a language immersion environment in which students learn English naturally through using English to communicate during all facets of the daily program |
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a focus on speaking and listening in addition to the more traditional writing and reading skills taught in school |
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several
types of learning groups matched by age or English
language ability learn together through hands-on projects
and activities. |
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use of simulations and role plays that help students learn by doing in addition to classroom studies |
Students are grouped at various times of the day by:
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age and gender
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- Students live on a particular Street (a portion of the hallway in the dormitory). Each street has 12-13 students and 2 staff members.
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age and English ability level
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- Students are assigned a language-learning class called a School. Each school has approximately 10 students and 1 staff member.
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a rich mix of age, ability, and native language
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- Students are assigned a work group called a Neighborhood in a manner which ensures that every student interacts with students from a variety of language backgrounds and of varying ages and ability levels.
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Technology at Hometown, Europe
At Hometown,
Europe, project-based technology instruction will
also play a significant role in daily programming. Villagers
will work with MicroWorlds software, Lego MindStorms,
and Intel Play digital Movie Creators, and will then have
the opportunity to develop individual and group projects
using their new skills. The focus of our activities will
be to tell a story, make a movie, and build a robotic
machine or creature. In the process of creating, villagers
will gain practical skills that can be implemented in
future settings outside the Village. Whether it's the
problem solving and logic skills required to write a MicroWorlds
program, the English skills necessary to write a story
or screenplay, the mechanical and programming knowledge
needed to build with MindStorms, or the creativity necessary
to edit digital video, villagers will leave Hometown,
Europe knowing more than how to use the computer. They'll
leave knowing that they have the ability to create.
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