Al-Waha
Encyclopedia
is an immersion
-based Arabic-language camp for students between the ages of 7 and 18 associated with Concordia Language Villages
. It was established in 2006 with the help from a grant from the U.S. State Department. The camp is located near Vergas
, in northwestern Minnesota
, on the shores of Lake Trowbridge. Al-Wāḥa occupies a location that previously used by Waldsee
, the German language
camp, and Lesnoe Ozero, the Russian language
camp.
and Palestine
to Ramadan
and other holidays, as well as literature and other arts. The camp was originally in Vergas but as of 2010 it is on Turtle River Lake in Bemidji, at the site of the Norwegian camp.
Additionally, all the signs and daily activities are named in Arabic and Arabic script.
). The integration of Modern Standard Arabic with the many Arabic dialects posed a challenge for the counselors, but they decided to expose villagers to the dialects through skits and songs, and dialect speakers spoke dialect during free time. Counselors come from countries such as Egypt
, Sudan
and Lebanon
, in addition to the United States
.
, is the first grant that Concordia Language Villages
has received for its villages. A spokesperson for the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
asserted that the government does not plan to track students who attend al-Wāḥa.
Language immersion
Language immersion is a method of teaching a second language in which the target language is used as the means of instruction. Unlike more traditional language courses, where the target language is simply the subject material, language immersion uses the target language as a teaching tool,...
-based Arabic-language camp for students between the ages of 7 and 18 associated with Concordia Language Villages
Concordia Language Villages
Concordia Language Villages , previously the International Language Villages, is a world-language and culture education program whose mission is to prepare young people for responsible citizenship in our global community. Since beginning in 1961, it has grown to offer summer camp in 15 modern...
. It was established in 2006 with the help from a grant from the U.S. State Department. The camp is located near Vergas
Vergas, Minnesota
Vergas is a city in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 331 at the 2010 census.Vergas claims it is home of the World's Largest Loon, actually a sculpture of a loon, the Minnesota state bird.- History :...
, in northwestern Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, on the shores of Lake Trowbridge. Al-Wāḥa occupies a location that previously used by Waldsee
Waldsee (camp)
Waldsee, "Lake of the Woods," is the German immersion program offered by Concordia Language Villages. Located near Bemidji, Minnesota, Waldsee is also the site of North America's first certified passive house, which uses 85% less energy than a house built to the Minnesota Energy Code.Waldsee is...
, the German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
camp, and Lesnoe Ozero, the Russian language
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
camp.
Daily life
At Al-Wāḥa, Arabic language and culture are taught through Arabic games, arts and crafts, dances, sports, and songs, as well as culturally-authentic foods. Each day is focused around a theme, which include everything from MoroccoMorocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
and Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
to Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
and other holidays, as well as literature and other arts. The camp was originally in Vergas but as of 2010 it is on Turtle River Lake in Bemidji, at the site of the Norwegian camp.
Additionally, all the signs and daily activities are named in Arabic and Arabic script.
Language use
The main language used is Modern Standard Arabic, although this variety of Arabic is not used in informal situations (see diglossiaDiglossia
In linguistics, diglossia refers to a situation in which two dialects or languages are used by a single language community. In addition to the community's everyday or vernacular language variety , a second, highly codified variety is used in certain situations such as literature, formal...
). The integration of Modern Standard Arabic with the many Arabic dialects posed a challenge for the counselors, but they decided to expose villagers to the dialects through skits and songs, and dialect speakers spoke dialect during free time. Counselors come from countries such as Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, in addition to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
State Department
Preparations for Al-Wāḥa began a year and a half before its opening, with the help of national prominent experts in the Arabic language. Its curriculum was being developed independently before receiving a $250,000 grant from the U.S. State Department to fund the camp. This grant, part of the National Security Language InitiativeNational Security Language Initiative
The National Security Language Initiative is a program introduced by United States President George W. Bush on January 5, 2006 at the U.S. University President's Summit to develop the foreign language skills of American students, especially in "critical-need" foreign languages such as Arabic,...
, is the first grant that Concordia Language Villages
Concordia Language Villages
Concordia Language Villages , previously the International Language Villages, is a world-language and culture education program whose mission is to prepare young people for responsible citizenship in our global community. Since beginning in 1961, it has grown to offer summer camp in 15 modern...
has received for its villages. A spokesperson for the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world...
asserted that the government does not plan to track students who attend al-Wāḥa.