Eddy Dehler-Seter teaches a content-based lesson at das BioHaus.

 

 

Teacher Seminars participants experience the power of nature.

Nature and the environment was most certainly today’s theme. Our busy day started with another drive out to the Language Villages. Today’s destination: das BioHaus at Waldsee, the German Language Village. CLV’s environmental education specialist, Edwin Dehler-Seter, was there to meet the group and provide three hours of intensity! He very clearly modeled content-based instruction through a variety of activities including natural and renewable resources and life cycles of various species. His lesson was engaging and he had the teachers fully involved and participating, all in German. Our stay with Eddy ended with him providing a detailed tour of the BioHaus, a cutting-edge environmental learning center. The teachers were fascinated with the content-based lessons provided by Eddy, as well as his high level of energy and enthusiasm. 

 

Following our visit with Eddy, we enjoyed a picnic lunch together at Skogfjorden, the Norwegian Language Village. Where, from amongst the trees, appeared a peaceful woman dressed all in blue. The teachers soon discovered that this woman was in fact Tove, the dean of Skogfjorden. She introduced herself to the group and explained (all in Norwegian) the connection between wearing blue and the trolls of Norway (which happened to be their theme of the day). Our visit to Skogfjorden began with Tove leading us in a cultural activity, explaining that this year in Norway has been identified as the “Year of the Cultural Artifact.” She then led us on a walking tour around her site, explaining several artifacts and discussing their significance, either from a Norwegian point of view, a U.S. point of view, or from a Skogfjorden-specific perspective. Some of what she shared with us she considers to be special secrets of Skogfjorden, so we really can’t write about them here (but take a close look at our pictures!). 

We invited Tove to join us later this evening for dinner. And, following dinner, she shared with us a little about her philosophy of teaching language through song. Song is a very powerful tool, and a great vehicle for teaching (and learning) language. The teachers were fascinated by the historical journey that she guided them on earlier in the day, and even more in awe after listening to her teach them a song in Norwegian after dinner. 

Our group was very fortunate to experience nature at its best in two very different, yet similar, locations at the Language Villages today!

“Eddy’s focus was definitely on the content and not on the teaching of German grammar. By integrating the language with the subject matter content, he made the words and concepts that he taught more relevant and interesting. I really learned something today.” - Dawn, high school German teacher from Virginia

Tove Dahl teaches us Norwegian through a beautiful song.