A language school in Montreal has come up with an interesting way to teach languages – the students get together in local restaurants where the language they’re studying is spoken. This enables the students to learn languages, and about cultures and cuisines, in a relaxed environment where they can actually use what they’re learning. They also get discount on their restaurant bills, and the restaurants get some free advertising, as well as extra business.
Sounds like a good idea.
Do you know of any similar initiatives?
That’s a brilliant idea. It really seems like a win-win situation to me.
http://www.languagecafe.eu/en/intro.html
I think it’s a good idea because it has the potential to make language learning secondary to the camaraderie and the pleasure of food. This can help students relax and have fun. Hopefully they like the food.
When I was studying Russian at university in Montreal we often went to Russian restaurants to practise our Russian – and enjoy the food. Staff were very patient and didn’t switch to French or English unless we wanted to. It makes such a difference when you could put your language learning to practical use – especially if you’re not able to live in the part of the world where the language is spoken by the majority.
Simon – not quite the same, but the Welsh-Breton group are meeting in the Blue Creek Cafe in Aberystwyth to speak Breton if you fancy travelling down from Bangor!
http://cymru-llydaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/komz-brezhoneg-en-aberystwyth.html
Something like this was done in my High School, for my German class in the school’s on-site restaurant (which students ran and learnt restauranting– Ironically, I was ALSO a student THERE), and did something similar… 🙂
Much like any immersion experience, it’s a really good idea. 🙂 Additionally, one can try a similar experience at Walt Disney World’s (Florida, USA) EPCOT Center, in the World Showcase part, as each of the dozen or so countries represented have restaurants & shops, and can try out your language skills on the workers there, who come from their respective lands. It was a pleasure speaking a little French in the France area there. 🙂
d.m.f.