CONTACT: Daniel P. Finney, (515) 271-2833, daniel.finney@drake.edu
The second floor of Meredith Hall will transform into an airport, a bus depot and some of the world’s most famous museums as imaginative youngsters learn foreign languages through Drake University’s annual Foreign Languages for the Young summer program.
Students, ages 4 to 14, will learn foreign languages as instructors engage their active imaginations. This summer’s theme centers on the world’s greatest museums. Students will learn about great works of art, artists and museums while they pick up a new tongue.
“Younger students learning French, for example, might imagine they were taking a plane ride to Paris to visit the Louvre,” said Larry Pace, director of the program. “They will learn all the words and phrases associated with taking a plane ride. They’ll learn about the art and artists in the Louvre.”
The three-week adventure will culminate with a trip to the Des Moines Art Center.
The program is open to students ages 4 to 14. Participants will learn a new language and explore the culture and traditions of France, German, Spain and Mexico.
Classes begin June 8 and continue through June 30. The classes are designed to accommodate both beginning and advanced students of foreign languages. Students will be grouped by ability as well as by age.
Sessions meet Monday through Friday in Meredith Hall, just east of Olmsted Center at 29th Street and University Avenue. The German and French classes will meet from 9 to 10 a.m. while the Spanish classes will meet from 10 to 11 a.m.
Early registration is encouraged due to limited enrollment. The registration fee is $130 for a student taking one language. The total cost for a student taking two languages is $200. For registration or more information, call Larry Pace at (515) 964-1237 or Drake University at (515) 271-1927.