Naturlingua Bilingual Summer Camp in Spain
 Naturlingua is a bilingual sleep-away summer camp, for speakers of both English and Spanish aged 8-17. It takes place from the 6th-15th August in Plan, Aragon in the Pyrenees. Private transport by bus, with camp counsellors, is provided from Barcelona, Madrid, Zaragoza and Huesca. The concept of the camp is to offer a children a natural environment in which to learn languages without formal teaching. Naturlingua is simply a bilingual experience. Some activities are led in English and others in Spanish.
A special offer has just been launched for English-speaking children. The goal is to include as many English-speakers as Spanish-speakers as participants. They are offering an amazing 50% off the camp fee to those who speak English as a mother tongue: The price for English speaking participants is now €495 instead of the usual €990. The deadline for registrations has now been extended until the 15th June 2008.
Under the slogan, "We don't teach languages!", the camp allows children to naturally process languages without the need for books, classes or exams. There are no translations, except for the safety rules. Children participate in activities that include games, songs, handicrafts, trekking, camping and orientation techniques. Some activities are age-specific while others are undertaken by all.
If needed, monitors help participants on a one-to-one basis. Children are, however, expected to make an effort to ask for help from their fellow campers. In fact, that is the main goal of the camp: overcoming the fear of language and breaking down linguistic barriers. The camp experience is an investment for the future. It does not matter how much Spanish or English children learn during their time at camp, but more importantly, how much their minds open up to learning and speaking languages in the future.
Julio López Garbayo, Camp Director says, "We are offering children the opportunity of having lots of fun in another language and of making friends from other countries. In this environment, their enthusiam for language will doubtless increase. Naturlingua is an organization devoted to leisure and non-formal education. Participants develop their social and foreign language skills through organised games and outdoor activities"
A key factor in the proven success of the Naturlingua system is that, around the clock, each participant shares experiences with other young people of their age.
Children are divided into four age groups:
• 8-10 year olds (for 2008, those born in 1998, 1999 or 2000).
• 11-13 year olds (for 2008, those born in 1995, 1996 or 1997).
• 14-15 year olds (for 2008, those born in 1993 or 1994).
• 16-17 year olds (for 2008, those born in 1991 or 1992).
Campers will be attending this year's Naturlingua camp from at least two European cities, Dublin and Zaragoza. During the entire trip to the camp, whether by plane or bus, adult representatives will travel together with the participants. Passing from parents' hands to the monitors' care, children will be accompanied safely at all times.
Once at camp, participants are divided into their age groups. Each group is made up from native participants of both languages and has its own supervisor, activities and responsibilities. All campers are expected to do some type of job or duty in order to collaborate with the smooth running of the camp. These small chores, mainly related to hygiene, have a pedagogical value, as they encourage team-work and promote environmental education.
At Naturlingua all the adults are qualified and paid professionals. With an almost equal balance between English-speakers as Spanish-speakers, the team consists of:
• A Camp director.
• An Environmental educator.
• An Activities and personnel supervisor.
• A Nutritionist.
• At least one monitor for each 8 campers.
• Two cooks.
• A health worker.
• Maintenance personnel.
All the monitors are over 21 years of age, have university experience and hold the official qualification of Leisure Time Monitor or equivalent.
For further information, and to register please visit www.naturlingua.com
or call Tel. (+34) 976 482 059.
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