concordia school of languages

My daughter went to the Mandarin camp (actually in Callaway, MN, as opposed to Bemidji) for the first time this year at age 9. She loved it! The camp was very accommodating and the counselors were great. She got a real feel of the culture. From a language standpoint, she really got into it. When she got back to school (she goes to a language academy in Chicago's CPS) she brought it with her, for the first time using the language with her friends on a regular basis. The principal stopped me to tell me she was shocked, hearing kids actually speaking Mandarin in the lunchroom! My only criticism is the activities -- the lake swimming area was miniscule, and several activities (particularly canoeing and archery) were limited to ages much older than other camps permit/require.

I went into Waldsee thinking that this was going to be a good experience for me. I thought that I would be immersed in the German language, meet new friends, and most of all have fun. None of those things ended up happening, and the whole camp was a complete disappointment. I was also unhappy by the way that the dean of the camp treated me while I was there. The councilors, most of them being college graduates, didn't know how to handle most situations. Most kids at the camp spoke English and no German. This camp was a huge disappointment.

I just returned from an intense week at the Lac Du Bois French ADULT program of Concordia Language Villages outside of Bemidji MN.Here is a brief overview of the Fall program I just attended.The instructors and support personnel spoke only French.My cabin mate and I spoke only in French 24/7. (This was our option and it helped).For Adults, you should have enough language understanding to prepare yourself for the immersion environment. There are many fun activities, many selection options and many classroom activities that are flexible and structured to help you learn.The administrators and bus service to and from the camp were attentive to needs and comfort.The setting was Magnifique! (conducted at the Russian Village because the French Village was in use). The woods and the lake (Turtle River Lake) were gorgeous. There were no mosquitos due to the late time of year.The cabin assigned to us was clean and cozy - and while it was not the Ritz, it definitely was comfortable and it had a good ambience.The staff are from around the world with different accents and cultures (which we learned about). They are amazing people with varied backgrounds and their teaching capabilities were extraordinary.The food was truly excellent - and featured selections from many countries within the French-speaking world. Keep in mind that we were on-site for breakfast at 8, and back at the cabins between 9pm and 10:15 pm. But the day was 'fun' - even though it was 'busy'.The price is very reasonable considering it covers room, board and instruction.What progress did I make?: When I arrived, I was only able to understand about 10 percent of what I heard - unless I could see the written words also. By the end of the week I could understand most of what each staff member was saying, regardless of accents. This is a amazing improvement considering my ONLY prior experience was with three levels of Rosetta Stone. Also - I recognized the areas I need to work on to support my continued growth.I recommend this program - it is better than visiting a foreign land for a week because every person there (including other students) are dedicated to the learning experience. Many of the people were returning students.

These are immersion schools. World famous for their programs. Each village is built in the tradition of the country they represent. Gorgeous buildings and deep wood settings on a lake. The woods are thick and natural and lots of winding trails. Often used for retreats by others, you can not beat the settings. While there you will be served more cultural food. Awesome chefs. Lots of healthy and tasty snacks twice a day on some meal plans. The Schoolcraft Charter School take over the French Village during the school year. The main building looks like a French Chalet. Other languages represented are Norwegian, German, Swedish, Spanish and Japanese in the future, and others.

is about as remote as a place in Europe really is. It is wonderful, The villages are all so well kept the teachers are exceptional and the activities are packed with fun and adventure. Over the years I have gotten to know many of the teachers and some of the students they all say the same thing, "That was great, can't wait to do it again next year".

We attend every year. It's a great experience to learn another language and have lots of fun as you do it! The food is great, also!

In a lovely area! A great place to learn a language. The village is set up like a German village to give it authenticity. They also have many annual festivals. It's especially pretty after it snows.

of a good camp to improve your linguistic talents and diplomatic skills. High risks of fun in gorgeous nature setting.

What a concept! What an execution!Special to our family as we've had several family members intimately involved in both the Norwegian and the Russian Schools.

hi my name is Ivana . i'm from Argentina and i have been involved in the program winter in hometown.there i learn a lot of things like the objiwe life and a lot of things about the north american culture, but i learn that things havin a lot of fun with my teachers and all the people from Bemidji :)