Swiss Benevolent Society
P.O. BOX 2137
Chicago, IL 60690-2137

E-mail:
education@sbschicago.org

Concordia Language Villages
Mission: To prepare young people for responsible citizenship in a global community.

Because language education alone does not lead to the formation of world citizens, language and culture is taught in global contexts. Geography, history, political science and international relations are drawn on, creating learning situations that challenge participants to use language as a tool for understanding the complexities of the world around them.  

Waldsee offers an in-depth living experience in German-speaking cultures. Your journey begins when you choose a German name. You will exchange your American dollars for Deutsche Mark, which you deposit in your Waldsee bank account, and settle into your new home in a Haus (cabin) named after a major German, Austrian, or Swiss city. From Bern to Berlin to Vienna , at Waldsee, you'll want to use your German from the first sleepy Guten Morgen (good morning) right through Reich mir bitte das Wienerschnitzel (please pass the wienerschnitzel) at the dining table. The morning and afternoon will be filled with numerous sessions and activities. You may join a large group language session in the morning and later on a song session. The afternoon may bring smaller conversation practice periods. Activities like Fussball, fencing, dancing, swimming, band, drama, baking, chess, ethnic arts such as Bauernmalerei (Bavarian folk art painting) and Scherenschnitte (Swiss paper cutting) are going on all day. You may even make Swiss cheese! You may spend ein Tag im Mittelalter (a day in the Middle Ages), go on a northern German Kaperfahrt (pirate journey), relive the adventures of Wilhelm Tell or learn the language and cultural skills you'd need to take the train from Berlin to Munich or to ride the subway in Vienna. The notes of "O wie wohl ist mir am Abend" ("Oh, How Wonderful I Feel This Evening") may be heard as the sun goes down while you and your new-found friends gather around the warm, cozy Lagerfeuer (campfire) before going to bed.

 

Lac du Bois offers an in-depth living experience in French-speaking cultures. Your first step will be to choose your new French name. You'll exchange your dollars for francs and your moniteur or monitrice (counselor) will help you settle into your cabin named after a French city, province, château, or another French-speaking country. Your day will begin with the flag-raising ceremony à la française and morning exercises, just enough to wake you up. For petit déjeuner (breakfast), you'll start the day with chocolat chaud (hot chocolate) or café au lait (coffee with milk), baguette (French bread), confiture (jam) and muesli (granola). Morning learning groups, organized according to level of proficiency, will allow you to speak French at the village bank and store. You can learn sports such as badminton, volleyball, soccer, boules, croquet, sailing, swimming and canoeing. There are folk dancing and singing groups, ethnic arts and crafts, drama and mime. After another authentic French meal, the afternoon will bring free time to stop at the confiserie (candy store) or the librarie (book and paper store). Before the evening meal there will be a quick conversation review. Cultural presentations may follow dinner, or you will find time for cookouts, dances or campfires.

 

The information was taken from the Concordia Language Villages webpage at http://www.cord.edu