Cultural Notes By Joelle Petit Adkins

Internationa Digital Library

ICDL (International Children's Digital Library) (http://en.childrenslibrary.org/) is a site that offers children's books from all over the world in various languages that have been scanned and can be looked at and read online.  The books can be searched by age, awards, length, language, genre or cover color among other ways. The books can be read by clicking to move through the pages. If the print is too small to read, just click the text, and it enlarges. The site also offers information about the books including author, publisher, publishing date and occasionally other information.

Foreign language prep for Middle and High School students

Middle and High school Foreign Language Preparation

Too many young students struggle and fail in their first or second year of learning a foreign language. Why and what to do? This article will answer your questions.

 
Teen and pre-teen foreign language preparation classes      

Do you have an 11 to 15 years old child? Then read on… Otherwise, pass this article to someone who has a Teen.

Next September or in a year or two, your child will be starting or continuing a second language. Most likely Spanish, French or Chinese…

Everything will be great the first 2 or 3 months. Your child, equipped with a amazing memory will succeed in taking quiz and tests, ease through his homework (often a simple worksheet) and life will be simple in the foreign language department.

Then comes the second quarter… this wonderful and amazing memory that helped your child through the first months will now be playing tricks on him and his tests will start to be less and less shinning… He is still doing his homework (the famous worksheet), he is still remembering what the teacher said in class… but what is happening now? Oh no! he doesn’t remember this word, or that one… and how do you correctly spell this verb? Can’t remember… anymore.

You see, because of his amazing memory, and because no one taught him how to study a foreign language, you child really never anchored the vocabulary, never really memorized (in a long term memory way) the rules that would help him now and later with his verbs… he did his worksheets nicely and on time, but never really “learned” the language. Like a house would crumble without foundations, your child is slowly failing his foreign language class.

This is when you and him look for a rescue plan…

Every year, dozens of your teen have to squeeze 2 or more hours of foreign language for several weeks of tutoring to avoid a low grade (in the best cases). We all work hard to bring back the missing links, it takes a lot of time, dedication and money.

This is definitely a way to do it…

However there are much better ways.

Based on our experience with the middle and high school students who come to us every year with the hope we will help them to regain some momentum we designed a one-week camp addressing most of the hidden challenges. Students who took the course in the previous years have enjoyed a trouble free, high grade and peace of mind the following year.
   
Don’t wait until your child is failing:
•   It will affect his grades
•   It will damage his self-esteem
•   The task will be much more stressful
•   It will be costly
•   It will take a great deal of time and commitment from his part, but who is going to drive him to us? You will be also seriously impacted…

Get prepared now! Check our Teen I and Teen II camps:
www.savoirfaire-california.com   

August 11, 2009

Joëlle Petit Adkins

Chief Executive Director

SAVOIR FAIRE Language Institute, INC.

310-378-1086

"Speaking a foreign language within your reach and in your neighborhood" Since 1995

DAY OF THE DEAD FESTIVAL at the Museum of Latin American Art

Savoir Faire Language Institute

Foreign language within your reach and in your 

neighborhood

Fun and cultural way to practice your Spanish:

DAY OF THE DEAD FESTIVAL

Sunday, November 2
12:00 - 6:00pm

Join the celebration: Workshops, performances throughout the day, face painting, Look-a-like contest, food, vendors and more: Altar  Contest  winners announced

Participate in our LOOK-ALIKE contest dress like your favorite Latin American Celebrity / Icon. Explore your inner Frida, Castro or Eva Peron. Dress up and win a prize.

Performers for the day include: Alina Mendez School of Dance, Paso de Oro /Steps of Gold, Nueva Antigua Brass band, Santa Monica Folkloric Group and special guest with Buyepongo, playing the best Cumbia in Long Beach.

RSVP to 562.437.1689

More info

Website for Children practice!

This information is brought you by

Savoir Faire Language Institute

Foreign language within your reach and in your neighborhood

Dear Mom and Dad:
Julia did some research for your child to practice during the summer.
Here are some websites she found:

1.      This one is by a Spanish teacher. There is a section for parents and students, and there is a section for teachers.  Go to the Teacher's links and find the section on Web for Kids: 

o       http://www.anacleta.com

2. This is a subscription site, but it has enough free sample lessons to occupy a student for a half an hour:

• www.linguafun.eu/

1. Here is the one that we, Decker's mother and I, spoke about:

• http://www.hortonmovie.com/splash.html

4. Finally, this one is very good for review:

·                Spanish:

o        http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/rgshiwyc/school/curric/Hotpotatoes/spanishindex.htm

·                French:

o        http://www.languagesonline.org.uk/

Queen Mary Mariachi Fest!

This information is brought you by

Savoir Faire Language Institute

Foreign language within your reach and in your neighborhood

Come and visit Savoir Faire Booth

at the Mariachi Fest

on the Queen Mary!

Win a full year of language class!

The 2008 Queen Mary Mariachi Fest is being held on Saturday, June 28 at the beautiful Seawalk Village located on the grounds of the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. The event features music, food, traditional dance groups, games, comedians, live Mariachi bands, craft vendors and more! Festival hours are 10AM - 8PM

Details and Information online

          

  

Noel en Provence

This information is brought you by

Savoir Faire Language Institute  

Foreign language within your reach and in your neighbohood

                

                                     

                                     

December 8th - 2:00 to 4:00 pm Alta La Jolla Clubhouse:

Alta La Jolla Clubhouse

1540 Alta La Jolla Dr

858-459-6903

                                     

Come enjoy an afternoon of seasonal cheer and sample some traditional French Holiday fare among which are the famous "Thirteen Desserts of Provence". Santa promised to come visit and delight our children with some treats too. So bring them along!

                                     

                                

MOLAA'S BALLET PARA NIñOS AUDITIONS

MOLAA'S BALLET PARA NIñOS AUDITIONS
               
molaa is looking for talented children who love to dance.  This new dance program is an intense educational experience for serious students who want to excel in dance and who are interested in the culture of Latin America.  Interested parties may sign up online at www.molaa.org or call 562 437-1689 for a registration form.  No previous dance experience necessary.  Boys and girls are invited to participate.

                  

Our Ballet  para Niños program will have an emphasis in Latin American dance styles,  but will also include styles such as ballet, jazz and tap. 

                  

Every Tuesday & Sunday (except  Holidays)
Members: $100   
Non-Members  $120/month
Children Ages 6-12
Classes Start on Sunday, November 4th 2007

                  

For Online Reservations call 562.437.1689 or Click Here.
                     
                     
 

                  

2007 – 2008 Dance Class  Schedule:
                   
                      A one-year-long dance class program will start on Sunday, November 4, 2007 and will end in  December 2008.                      Classes will be held twice a week. Children must wear hair in a  bun or pony-tail.

                  

Sundays
                    Children aged 6 to 9:          1:00  - 2:30 pm
                    Children ages 10 to 12:      2:30  – 4:00 pm

                  

Tuesdays
                    Children aged 6 to 9:          3:30 - 4:45 pm
                    Children ages 10 to 12:      4:45  – 6:00 pm

                  

• Enrollment  is open through November and December 2007 and closes in January 2008.                       You may enroll online or by phone.
                       
                     
• Space is limited.  molaa reserves the right to reimburse tuition for children who show no commitment or interest in the program.
                       
                     
• A  one time fee for  shoes and dancewear is due before dance lessons begin: $135.00/girls and $105.00/boys.
                          
                           

Sunday at MOLAA

EXPLORA MoLAA SUNDAYS
   
Each first Sunday of the month, we regale our visitors with hands-on art workshops open for adults and children of all ages from 1 to 3pm. 

                         

Our main goal is to cultivate an interest, in our community, towards the vast and diverse artistic productions of Latin American people and to inspire, through the work of our artists, a sense of value and appreciation for the Latin American culture.

                         

We dedicate each first Sunday of the month to explore a different country of Latin America through the art of a selected Latin American artist from our permanent collection

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"Speaking a foreign language within your reach and in your neighborhood" Since 1995

MOLAA, Museum of Latin American Art

molaa's mission is to educate the public about contemporary Latin American fine art (by artists who have lived and worked in Latin America since WWII) through the presentation of a significant permanent collection, dynamic exhibitions and related cultural and educational programs.

For more information
Sunday workshop at Molaa

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"Speaking a foreign language within your reach and in your neighborhood" Since 1995

Olvera Street

Olvera Street is located on the general site of the birthplace of the city of Los Angeles, near the Plaza, the Plaza Church and the Zanja Madre. Originally called Vine Street, in 1877 it was renamed after Agustin Olvera, the first judge of the county of Los Angeles. Unfortunately, by the 1920’s the once robust community had become a dangerous and dilapidated area long abandoned by its prosperous founders.

So when Mrs. Christine Sterling, a wealthy young matron who loved history, found herself surrounded by original adobes and run down historic buildings, she began a crusade that would change her life and preserve the heritage of Los Angeles.

Along with several other wealthy citizens of Los Angeles, she founded the “Plaza de Los Angeles Corporation,” and became its lifelong manager. Mrs. Sterling opened Olvera Street to the general public in April 1930. Although there have been many developments in the last seventy years, her idea of a Mexican Marketplace still exists and continues to attract visitors from around the world.