Sorry Mickey! Dedicated Ben chooses JLC over Disneyworld
Nine year old Ben Fawcett will be cutting short his family holiday in Disneyworld to take part in this month’s Junior Language Challenge final.
Ben, who is the first pupil from Oakwood School near Chichester to get through to the final, had been due to be in Florida when the final of EuroTalk’s JLC takes place on October 21st.
His mum, Anna, says: “The timing couldn’t have been worse for us. We’re taking the children to Disneyworld for two weeks but Ben and I are only going for one week because the final is in the middle of our planned holiday.
“He’s disappointed but we gave him the choice and he said, ‘No Mummy, I’ve come this far – I want to do it,’ and I’m happy to fly back with him. But the timing couldn’t have been worse. We arrive back the day before the competition so he’ll probably be jet-lagged…”
Ben and EuroTalk chairman Dick Howeson
Holiday plans apart, entering the competition has been a good thing for the Fawcetts.
Anna adds: “Children from Oakwood have made it through to the semi-finals before but not to the finals so Ben’s as proud as a peacock! It’s been really good for his confidence not just with languages but generally. He’s thoroughly enjoyed the competition and I’ve hardly had to remind him to look at the games.”
Having picked up some of the basics of Portuguese and Kazakh in the first two rounds of the competition, Ben is now one of around 40 finalists trying to get to grips with the last JLC language, Luganda.
Anna adds: “I’m obviously extremely proud of him but it’s completely nerve-wracking as well!”
We’re looking forward to seeing Ben and Anna at the final, which will be held at the Language Show next Friday.
Ben’s even made the local paper!
Are there any other semi-finalists out there who’d like to share their JLC story?
Innovative Language Learning Initiative for Haiti
Guest post by Sheri Colas-Gervais, Vice-President of the Le Flambeau Foundation
The launch of two new sets of language learning CD-ROMs has many excited. The new products are the result of a unique relationship between Le Flambeau Foundation – a U.S. non-profit organization providing educational programming and scholarships to youth in Haiti, and London-based EuroTalk. The new language learning CD offerings include the American English language learning set, which features special Haitian Creole help, and the Haitian Creole language learning set. Each set has five CD-ROMs. These are part of an innovative fundraising initiative designed to assist young people in Haiti to earn sustainable educational assets that will prepare them for the effective rebuilding of Haiti.
These CD sets are unique in a number of ways. The special feature of having the help guides for the English language learning CDs spoken in Haitian Creole offers a significant advantage to the many youth in Haiti who speak Creole but are not fluent in French. By reducing the number of steps, students are able to accelerate their English learning… and have fun doing it via the highly entertaining and engaging EuroTalk format. For young people in Haiti looking for jobs and for those aiming to attend higher learning institutions in the U.S., this advantage is invaluable. It opens the door to a whole new world. The Haitian Creole learning CDs offer similar advantages to a U.S. audience (and other countries) aiming to become fluent before visiting Haiti and making sustainable contributions. We are pleased to be working with the EuroTalk team on this initiative and applaud the commitment. Sending the next student to school on scholarship, resulting from the funds being raised via this initiative, is already within reach. The future is bright!
The Le Flambeau Foundation assists Haiti via Intellectual Infrastructure Development – the provision of a solid education foundation for the brightest youth and future leaders of Haiti. The Foundation serves as a portal providing the youth of Haiti with educational opportunities, such as college scholarships and preparatory programming, that will prepare them to rebuild and lead the country’s transition from poverty to prosperity, with dignity. Le Flambeau Foundation scholars have a track record of graduating in the top tier of their class, including a scholar who is now attending graduate school at Harvard University. The Torch is lit. We carry it forward and pass it on!
The special CD sets are available to youth groups in Haiti and in the U.S. and serve as vehicles for meeting educational and funding needs. For more information on getting involved or on purchasing these special CD sets, please contact Le Flambeau Foundation Inc. (www.leflambeau-foundation.org) at scg@le-flambeau-foundation.org, or call (001) 305.596.2819. EuroTalk is making a donation to the Le Flambeau Foundation for every CD purchased from this special collection. This is innovation in its best form, as the wheels are in motion for making a significant sustainable difference for the people of Haiti. Rebuilding moves forward.
Example of a successful language exchange partnership which resulted in a student in Haiti receiving a scholarship. Both students remain involved and are excited about the new CDs, as these will increase access and accelerate the learning benefits.
