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RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN PRE-COLLEGE + SUMMER STUDIES Providence, R.I. RISD
CONCORDIA LANGUAGE VILLAGES Language Immersion, Camp-style
One of the most rewarding gifts that parents can give their child is the opportunity to learn a second language. Studies have shown the benefits to include increased cross-cultural awareness and competency, enhanced cognitive development and self-esteem, improved abstract and creative thinking, and higher standardized test scores. In addition, proficiency in a second language generally translates into greater earning potential and career opportunities in the global marketplace. Unfortunately, American society doesn’t value language study. Even where languages are offered, few schools begin early enough or devote the classroom time necessary to become proficient. There just isn’t enough time in the typical school day, but there is in summer. For more than 50 years, Concordia Language Villages near Bemidji, Minnesota, has been taking advantage of that opportunity to provide immersive language instruction in a camp-like setting. Participants ages 7-18, called “villagers,” come for one-, two- or four- week sessions and are housed in cabins in a cultural community, or Language Village, including seven sites with culturally authentic architecture. Each Language Village is dedicated to the study of one of 15 languages: Arabic, Chinese, Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish or Swedish. Counselors are a combination of native speakers and fluent non-native speakers, who converse with (and instruct) “villagers” only in the target language. While there is daily small group language instruction, what makes Concordia Language Villages unique is its combination of traditional camp-like activities with language and cultural immersion. Kids experience what it would be like to live in another country, including authentic meals, music and dance, crafts, games and sports.
Founded in 1877, Rhode Island School of Design (or “RIZ-dee” for the acronym RISD) is one of the oldest and best-known colleges of art and design in the U.S. The college is located in Providence, Rhode Island, which offers its own vibrant art scene and is conveniently located
between two other major cultural centers: Boston and New York.
Students at RISD access the institution’s one-of-a- kind Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab, RISD Museum featuring more than 86,000 works of fine and decorative art and the RISD Fleet Library, recently named by Travel + Leisure as one of America’s most beautiful college libraries. Pre-College Each summer, 400+ high school students from around the world come to RISD for a comprehensive introduction to the college art school experience. Definitely not an arts camp, the six-week residential Pre-College program is focused, serious and challenging. Students experience the core elements of a RISD education – critical thinking and artmaking – in foundation drawing and design courses, critical studies in art, and a concentration in one of 21 diverse majors. RISD Pre-College students have varied backgrounds and choose the program for many reasons: to find out if the arts is the right choice for them, to further pursue their art or to build their portfolio for college applications. Whatever the catalyst, students attending RISD Pre-College have one thing in common – they are passionate about art and design and are seeking an incomparable arts education and summer experience. precollege.risd.edu Summer Studies RISD’s Summer Studies program in the visual arts and design encompasses a wide spectrum of interests to meet the needs of beginning, intermediate and advanced students. Students from colleges and universities around the world, as well as art and design professionals interested in new creative experiences, are drawn to RISD’s vibrant artistic community. Scores of accomplished, award-winning artists, designers and educators – including members of RISD’s degree program faculty – teach in the summer programs. Courses include introductions to fine art fundamentals such as drawing and painting, as well as specialized areas of study such as architecture and industrial design, or graphic design, as offered through the Summer Institute of Graphic Design Studies. In addition, RISD Global Summer Programs offer travel learning opportunities for students interested in understanding the role of art and design in various cultures. Whether augmenting current college curriculum or broadening professional skills, RISD Summer Studies offers students a unique, intense and exceptional learning experience. risd.edu/summer
In just two weeks, a typical “villager” is exposed to language nonstop 24/7 with fun, cultural activities composing the context for teaching/learning, while those in the four-week program have the equivalent of one academic year in the classroom and can apply for a full year of high school credit.
Because it is continuous immersion, it is much more likely to “stick,” thus accelerating overall language skill acquisition and enhancing their classroom experience back home. In addition, children also learn valuable life lessons in self-esteem, self-confidence, independence, empathy, and curiosity that come with sleep-away camp. This one, though, has the added benefit of inspiring children to become responsible world citizens. For their part, parents will be pleased to discover that the price tag for all the benefits Concordia Language Villages offer is on par with the price of other sleep-away camps. More information: www.ConcordiaLanguageVillages.org clv@cord.edu 1-800-222-4750 WESTONMAGAZINEGROUP.COM 193
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