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Road Trip
to Cultural Diversity: A Map for Language Learning
Presented by Beth Butler/Creator of the
BOCA BETH
Program
Who said the road to
understanding your neighbor and traveling through foreign countries
cannot be paved with golden moments of language fun? Summer is time for
relaxation, reflection and road trips to places new and old.
Make the most of these treasured trips with learning opportunities you
and your children will talk about for years to come. Below I hope to
share with parents several tips for making the most of summer vacations;
taking them from mundane to language learning moments.
Research your trip prior to leaving. The internet has made those days of
having only AAA Road Maps as our travel guides long gone. We can now
utilize those search engines not only for convenient holiday shopping
but for travel plans extraordinaire! Find the best prices with your
children at your side, teaching them the value of money and comparison
shopping. Discover the native languages of your destination. Even U.S.
locations sport a variety of languages spoken in surrounding
communities. Check out DVDs, CDs and books from your local library
featuring this new language so that your entire family enjoys a jump
start on the language learning.
Plan your pit stops ahead of time with a purpose in mind. Shhhhh! Do not
tell the kids, but put a little method into your madness by finding some
cool places to stop along the way. Perhaps a little historical mound or
cool museum of local interest could just pop into your plans. Or, if you
are flying to your destination, ask friends and locals about some of the
great hang outs that will allow you to feel the local flavors. We leave
for Puerto Rico in a week, and my Puerto Rican amigas have made it their
mission to hook us up with great pueblos to stop by and experience the
local life!
Make meal time a math and practice time. Yes! Ordering a cerveza can
provide you with the learning opportunity of the day! When in Rome, do
as the Romans do so try it! Typically the locals in vacation
destinations appreciate and respect visitors who attempt to speak their
language. Encourage your children to order their lunch in the new
language. Then use your knowledge of any money or conversion rates
necessary to incorporate a little math over the summer time.
Visit cultural events, craft shows and local festivals. There is truly
no better way to hear the language, experience the culture and feel the
beat of the city you are in than to attend a fair, a craft show, an
artisan market, an outdoor festival or something free and current during
your stay. That internet research prior to leaving home should have
drummed up some free family fun for your stay. Make the most of this
local flair, and encourage the whole family to let go of their
inhibitions as they practice the new language, sample the new tastes and
experience a new way of life. You will notice the younger children
embrace these opportunities while the teens and adults have to work at
being childlike in their acceptance of new experiences.
We are the best teachers for our children and should welcome the chance
to make summer a time for continued learning. Let us not allow our
children to join the statistics of lost learning during summer months.
Research suggests that children lose an entire month of learning during
traditional summer break. Let us instead use the latest research that
suggests the earlier you introduce a second language to a young child,
the better.
Take a road trip and turn it into a golden opportunity for sharing
another culture, language and life experience. Your children will reap
the many benefits derived from early language learning while you reap
the peace of mind that you are preparing them for a society rich in
cultural diversity.
About the Author:
Beth Butler is the creator of the BOCA BETH Language Learning Series for
young children. Find out how fun and easy it can be to raise a bilingual
child. Sample the BOCA BETH bilingual music and movies for free at
http://www.bocabeth.com
Call toll free 1.877.825.2622 or 1.813.244.1432 |
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