• LaSalle Language Academy Builds Global Friendships

  
  
  We are not yet halfway through the school year, and LaSalle Elementary Language Academy is living up to its name, having already hosted two groups of foreign exchange students. In September, a group of eighteen 8th graders and their chaperones from the Instituto Joan Boscá in Barcelona arrived for a two week stay in Chicago.
  
  
  
  They enjoyed some wonderful Indian summer days as they visited the city attractions, explored different ethnic neighborhoods, and learned what it is like to be an elementary school student in the United States as they shadowed their hosts in classes.
  
  In November, a group of ten students and their four teacher chaperones landed at O’Hare for the second annual exchange with LaSalle. Shenyang, a sister city with Chicago, is the largest city in northeastern China. A group of students from LaSalle spent two weeks in China earlier this year, and plans are being made for our second trip to Shenyang and Beijing in 2013.
  
  Later in the year, LaSalle students will travel to Piacenza (Italy), Barcelona (Spain), and Rennes (France).
  
  The overseas exchange program is the culmination of eight or nine years of daily world language study. Students have the opportunity to put into practice everything they have learned in their world language classes. While overseas travel is expensive, costs are kept reasonable thanks to the “family stay”. Parents in both countries host students. Students are “immersed” in the “linguistic bath” and communicate in the target language for two weeks.
  
  When it comes to hosting the overseas groups, everyone pitches in. Parents volunteers work with the school to plan the enriching hosting activities and help chaperone the outings for the overseas guests. LaSalle teachers look after the visiting teachers in the evenings and at the weekend, and often welcome them in their homes. The students make sure everyone has a memorable experience.
  
  The LaSalle community is lucky to have such a dedicated group of parents and faculty, who create authentic learning experiences for LaSalle students..
  
  
  
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