Wisconsin middle and high school students are getting a taste of world languages at the University of Wisconsin–Madison through Experience Languages!
The outreach initiative, organized by the Language Institute, also introduces visiting students to related opportunities, such as study abroad, international internships, and residential language communities.
On April 12, 2016, approximately 60 students from Monroe High School were introduced to Portuguese, Finnish, Mandarin, Swahili, Ancient Greek, and Yucatec Mayan. Each student was introduced to two languages.
The Experience Languages! initiative began in the fall 2015. Schools that participated include Madison East and LaFollette, Plymouth, Kimberly, Fort Atkinson, Cedarburg, Sauk Prairie, Verona, and Waterford.
Wendy Johnson, assistant director of the Language Institute, welcomes the Monroe students and gives an overview of languages at UW–Madison.
Israel Pechstein gives Monroe students an introductory lesson in Portuguese.
Serah Kivuti introduces students to Swahili.
Ilkka Posio teaches students to engage in Finnish
Hong Yan challenges students to write Chinese characters.
Click here to view more photos from Experience Languages!
Photos by Kerry G. Hill