I was thinking… with the pool of experience we have here in the Brigada audience (about 10,000 people), what if we tried to list some of the best language schools for some of the major languages we’ve learned. For example, I’m hearing that French-speaking workers have really liked Les Cedres…
But maybe you had a different/better French language learning experience? Obviously, we could cite the “LAMP” method (utilizing local language helpers, a la the Brewsters’ approach) in each new language, but for those preferring a school approach, it’s probably not a bad idea to cite some well-liked options. Which schools (in which languages) did you appreciate? Just click “Comment” in the box below — and by doing so, maybe help future workers with future options. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.
A lot of the missionaries that we know, including us, have done French language acquistion at Parole de Vie in Southern Quebec. It is a beautiful campus and surroundings, primarily designed as a Bible School for French speaking young people. There is an option to take Bible School courses with these students. More information is at
http://www.pdvb.ca/pdvb1_ca/bank/pageimages/download/prospectus_fls.pdf
I think the best place to learn Thai is Lopburi Learning Center in Lopburi, Thailand (OMF International). It only has places available when not full with OMFers. In the past, ULS (Union Language School) in Bangkok and Cornerstone in Chiang Mai were also very good. It would be good to ask someone to check out those places.
For Latin American Spanish, several mission organizations and independent missionaries are using the Roca Blanca Spanish Language School on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca, Mexico. Their experience has been very positive, with a lot of missionary experience and cultural integration mixed into the language learning process.
We attended Cincel located in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Having entered with practically no Spanish knowledge, we departed 1 year later with approximately a 7th grade education reading, writing, and speaking. We were 47 years of age at that time. I have now taught in Bible schools in Guatemala and in the US, in Spanish. Most linguistic experts say it is nearly impossible to learn a 2nd language after the age of 40. I am now learning my 3rd. (Kekchi Maya)
For Hindi, I strongly recommend Landour Language School in Musoorie.
My wife and I think EuroCentro in Florence is super for Italian. http://www.ecfirenze.com/ We also used EuroCentre in Paris for picking up French on our way to Haiti. Great program! http://www.eurocentres.com/en/language-school-paris
My wife and I had a great experience and got a solid grounding in French at CCEF (http://www.cef-france.org/index.php/en/) in Albertville, France.
I would strongly recommend CCEF Albertville for French, particularly for those who like a carefully structured learning program. After 9 months I was able to lecture in French. http://www.cef-france.org