Vocabulary
As a unique program, we have developed a unique language of our own! This list will help you as you learn more about the Villages, our programs and sites.
Language: There are 15 languages taught at the Villages: Arabic, Chinese, Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish.
CLVisa: The Concordia Language Visa (CLVisa) allows villagers to reflect on their language learning progress and set personal goals for further language growth during their stay at the Language Villages. The CLVisa is based on the European Language Portfolio, developed by the Language Policy Division of the Council of Europe, and on the LinguaFolio developed in the United States.
Village: Each language has a corresponding Village name that translates roughly to “Lake of the Woods.” A few examples are Sēn Lín Hú, Salolampi, Lago del Bosco. The exceptions to this rule are French Voyageur, Arabic Al-Wāḥa, and English Hometown.
Site: Each Village has one or more sites, depending on enrollment. Sites may be a year-round, architecturally authentic Village owned by Concordia Language Villages or a traditional camp or retreat facility transformed into a Village for the summer. Sites include Camp Patmos, Camp Holiday, and Turtle River Lake.
Location: Each site in Minnesota is located in a rural area on a lake with beachfront and woods. When we refer to the site location, we use the name of the nearest town, which helps when you are looking for directions: Bemidji, Hackensack, Cass Lake. Our U.S. sites outside of Minnesota are also located in rural areas near lakes or water, and are also named for the closest town. Our locations outside the United States are named for the city or town in which they are located.
Deans: Deans are the directors of each Village. They are onsite and in charge of the Village, staff and curriculum, handling emergencies and communication with villager families as well as the administrative office.
Village Names: Staff and villagers select culturally appropriate names to use while they are at the Villages. You will see the deans’ Village names italicized between their first and last names (Allison Magda Spenader). We often refer to staff by their Village names. We always refer to villagers by their Village names (except when corresponding with family members).
Target Language: The language being learned and spoken at each Village is the “target language.”
Sessions: Sessions of varying lengths overlap at the Villages, allowing interaction during Village-wide activities such as meals, campfires, evening programs and some activities. This interaction encourages villagers of varying ages, language proficiencies and experience at the Villages to learn from and support one another.
clv@cord.edu
1.800.222.4750