We all know how schools teach foreign languages. It’s mostly textbooks, worksheets, quizzes and videos.
In the fall of 2018, A Dual School student saw a new way. She was passionate about learning languages that weren’t offered in her school. Languages like Korean, Mandarin or Thai. So she designed her version of the ideal language learning situation: being paired with a like-minded person who speaks your desired language fluently, and is trying to learn english.
After lots of hard work and some luck, she found a woman in Thailand who wanted to learn English and happened to share an interest in Korean Pop music.
Now, they text and Facetime routinely with the student writing in Thai and the counterpart responding in English. They are constantly sharing feedback and trying to improve their skills to improve the conversations.
You can see she’s on fire about learning this language now because it’s real. It’s tangible and personal.
Why wouldn’t we make that an assignment in a foreign language class? Form a genuine connection with someone in another country.
Sounds difficult. Sounds meaningful. Sounds like the challenges people face in the real world. And most importantly, it sounds like it could lead to a transformative learning experience.