German Language Village

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Waldsee Needs Your Photos!

By Berndt | Published: January 25, 2010

We’re gearing up for Waldsee Fest 2010 in celebration of our 50th anniversary this summer! As a part of the preparations, we’re trying to gather as many old photos as possible. If you have some photos, especially from the years 1961-1983, we’d really appreciate if you could share them with us. If you have access to a scanner, please scan them in and send them along to waldseefotos@yahoo.com and we’ll post them to our Flickr website. Please include any information about the year, the place, and the people in the picture.

For the time being, take a look at this great staff photo from 1974!

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NEW for 2010! German Apprentice Program

By Berndt | Published: January 17, 2010

In Waldsee’s German Apprentice Program, you’ll learn German by becoming a Lehrling, working half-time developing a community skill auf deutsch, and learning German half-time in regular Waldsee learning groups. German apprentices live with regular Waldsee participants and join in village activities, but also contribute to the Waldsee community and develop a work skill at the same time, learning from master teachers and experts in their field. It’s a time-honored German tradition and a great leadership opportunity – and you can join the adventure! Participants receive a certificate of apprenticeship with work hours included.

Apprentice opportunities in

Bakery and Kitchen * Carpentry * Store, Bank and Café * Gardening/Green Roof * Music * Technology/Podcasting/Webblogging * Art and Photography *Science/Environmental Studies

4 weeks * Tuition Cost $2,055
For young people 15 years and older with 2 years or more of German.
June 21 – July 17, 2010 GB 26
July 19 – August 15, 2010 GB 66
August 2 – August 28, 2010 GB 86

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Coming in 2010! Waldsee Science Day Camp!

By Berndt | Published: January 17, 2010

Waldsee_Science_DayCampScience is a global language linking young and old around the world. In 2010 kids ages 6-11 can join in hands-on adventures in science at Waldsee! The Waldsee BioHaus offers a treasure trove of kid-friendly science experiments. Bake a pizza in your own solar oven. Power a car using only water. Turn on a radio with your bicycle. Use magnets to cook your lunch. Test homemade rockets and gliders. Experience the wonders of science with all of your senses — touch, taste, sight, smell and hearing! Take advantage of Waldsee’s beautiful North Woods lakeside location for first-hand discoveries of nature. Kids in Waldsee’s Global Day Camp use teamwork and creative problem solving to unlock the wonders of science through experimentation and innovation. You can use your English along the way, but don’t be surprised if Albert Einstein joins you for some fun!

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20 Years after the Fall of the Wall

By Berndt | Published: November 9, 2009
Karl leads a tour of Waldsee with German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth

Karl leads a tour of Waldsee with German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth

Waldsee dean Dan Karl Hamilton published an op-ed piece recalling the day that the Berlin Wall fell. In 1989, Karl was the Deputy Director of the Aspen Institute in West Berlin and was an eye-witness to the historic events that led to the tearing down of the Berlin Wall as well as the process of German unification that followed.

Click on the links to view his article in the November 8th edition of the San Francisco Chronicle or the November 9th edition of the Miami Herald.

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Students lead Waldsee Political Panel

By Berndt | Published: November 2, 2009

Just two days after the German national elections, six Concordia German students and their professor hauled their knowledge of the political parties up to Waldsee for a presentation.

The group, led by German assistant professor Dr. Stephen Grollman, presented a political panel to about 40 people in attendance of an adult week program at the German Language Village. The students took turns talking about various aspects of German politics, fielded a few questions from the villagers, acted out a sketch on the election process and enjoyed an overnight stay on the Village site.

Read more on this story in the November issue of Concordia College’s e-News.

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Waldsee Teacher-in-Residence Volunteer Program 2010

By Berndt | Published: October 3, 2009

Join us at Waldsee the summer of 2010 for a teacher volunteer week opportunity:

Monday July 19 — Saturday July 24, 2010
Monday, August 2 — Saturday, August 7, 2010
Monday July 26 — Saturday July 31, 2010
Monday, August 9—Saturday, August 14, 2010

Dear colleague,

Waldsee German Language Village, the German immersion program of Concordia Language Villages, is offering opportunities to teachers to join in the fun and excitement of Waldsee while keeping your German fresh with native speakers, finding out about cutting-edge techniques, and simply enjoying some time in a German environment – all close to home.

As you may know, Waldsee offers one, two- and four-week summer living and learning
experiences in German language and culture for beginning through advanced 7-18 year olds, with scholarship opportunities available. Family programs are also available. Hundreds of kids from all 50 states take part each year in this exciting program that returns your students to the classroom enthused about learning German with you, and awakens kids not yet in your classroom to the many reasons to learn German.

Come join us for a week at Waldsee this summer – we can offer room and board, and a focused program to engage you in German. A sample program might look like this:

Montag: Arrival – Willkommen in Waldsee!

Dienstag: Best practice techniques – from activities giving learners courage to extended projects using authentic materials.

Mittwoch: German and the Environment – come and join the excitement of the Waldsee BioHaus, the only certified Passivhaus in North America, winner of the Minnesota Environmental Award, and an amazing living and learning environment.

Donnerstag: German and Music – not musical? You’ll be rockin’ to modern German music so fast you’ll just naturally carry your enthusiasm back to the classroom. Musically oriented? We’re the Platz to be!

Freitag: German and Arts or German and Technology – join our artists’ colony of Worpswede, or find out how to offer podcasts, radio shows, all sorts of internet activities – und alles auf deutsch!

During the week you can also freshen your German with native speakers at the Café; help us with Gesang or our Abendprogramme; or help our younger staff improve their own German teaching techniques. You are a valuable resource for us – let’s get together! Waldsee promises to be a volunteer experience like no other – we promise a mutually rewarding exchange.

You can see what former teacher volunteers had to say here.

If you are working on your own professional development plan, we can tailor the Waldsee experience to help you meet your goals.

In addition, special Goethe Institut/AATG teacher scholarships are available for teachers keen on graduate credits and polishing their skills in an immersion setting. Summer staff positions are also available.

Find out more at www.waldsee.org and www.concordialanguagevillages.org.

Learn about our teacher scholarships and education programs at:

http://www.aatg.org/prof-development/28-summer-seminars-for-members-aatg-sponsored/463-goethe-institutaatg-program-at-concordia-language-villages-bemidji-mn-june-21-july-1-2009

Why Learn German? Here are some answers from the Waldsee DuTube:

http://waldsee.villagepages.org/dutube/ — your class can win prizes by sending us your own answers.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us at dhamilto@cord.edu if you are interested in joining us at Waldsee this summer. We can then be in touch with more details. Wir würden uns freuen!

Posted in News |

Waldsee Staff Alumni Volunteer Program 2010

By Berndt | Published: October 3, 2009

Former Staff! Join us at Waldsee the summer of 2010 for a volunteer week opportunity:

Monday, June 21 – Saturday, June 26, 2010
Monday, June 28 – Saturday, July 3, 2010
Monday, July 5 – Saturday, July 10, 2010
Monday, July 12 – Saturday, July 17, 2010
Monday July 19 — Saturday July 24, 2010
Monday July 26 — Saturday July 31, 2010
Monday, August 2 — Saturday, August 7, 2010
Monday, August 9—Saturday, August 14, 2010
Monday, August 16 – Saturday, August 21
Monday, August 23 – Saturday, August 28, 2010

Liebe Waldsee Betreuer und Lehrer!

Waldsee German Language Village, the German immersion program of Concordia Language Villages, is offering opportunities to former staff to re-discover, re-connect and re-engage in the fun and excitement of Waldsee — keep your German fresh, join in Waldsee’s 50th anniversary season of celebration, and enjoy some time in a German environment – all close to home.

Seid dabei! Come join us for a week at Waldsee this summer – all you need to do is decide on a week that works for you, contact us at dhamilto@cord.edu, and fill out a volunteer form. We can then be in touch with more details. Wir würden uns freuen!

Find out more at www.waldsee.org and www.concordialanguagevillages.org.

Posted in News |

Celebrating Leo!

By Golo | Published: August 28, 2009

letzte fotos 033This summer we are celebrating Leo’s fifth summer as a staff member at Waldsee. Leo hails from Cameroon, Africa, where he is a teacher of German and French. For the past five summers he has made the long trek from Africa to Waldsee and to Lac du Bois, where he has enriched our program as a credit teacher and a senior staff member both for regular participants and our adult family week participants. At Waldsee Leo has been famous for his Wetterbericht, his skills at Fussball, his ability to explain how German is used and spoken in Africa, and his great attitude. Danke, Leo!

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Earning Merit Badges auf Deutsch!

By Golo | Published: August 28, 2009

letzte fotos 037Magnus aus Waldsee is also a Boy Scout working on his merit badges. While at Waldsee this summer he decided to earn the Boy Scout Interpreter merit badge. Boys and adults may wear this strip if they show their knowledge of a foreign language or the sign language for the hearing impaired by:

1.  Carrying on a five-minute conversation in this language.
2.  Translating a two-minute speech or address.
3.  Writing a letter in the language (does not apply for sign language).
4.  Translating 200 words from the written word.
While he was at Waldsee, Magnus had many conversations lasting five minutes or more in German. He translated a talk by one of his counselors, he wrote a letter auf Deutsch, and he translated a Märchen, or German fairy tale, and so met all the requirements of the merit badge. When he gets home he has earned the right to wear an Interpreter Strip with the word “Deutsch” on his Boy Scout uniform. Other merit badges can also be earned at Waldsee – bring it on! Scouts can find out more about earning their Interpreter merit badge at http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/MeritBadges/inter.aspx).

Posted in News |

Fasnacht in Basel

By Golo | Published: August 28, 2009

3861796817_16110f0151[1]On Wednesday, August 26 Waldsee and Lac du Bois celebrated Swiss carnival known as Fasnacht. Delicious food included Döner Kepab, Krapfen, Bratwurst und Bretzeln, and costumed villagers and families enjoyed a variety of party games before dancing the night away in German, French and Italian! Hoch Schwyz!

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