What if you don’t fall into one of these categories, but instead have chosen a target language because of a child’s interest, to be more marketable on the job front, or simply because you believe it is necessary for your child’s education to be well-rounded? You may feel that it’s not possible to learn “everything” you need to know to become a fluent speaker just from working on educational tasks – you want to hear the music, taste the food, and get to know the people who speak your chosen language. Have no fear; you don’t need a passport or a plane ticket to learn more and practice your language skills on real people. You don’t even have to request a PCS to another country!
Here are the many ways our family has dabbled in learning about various cultures in addition to our “home” study with the standard homeschooling resources:
Contact your local or state Chamber of Commerce. They often have a schedule of events that are hosted by various cultural agencies. They’ll also have the contact information so you can learn more about groups that meet to support immigrants and help them share their culture with people in the area. That’s how we found the amazing Jewish Food Festival & Craft Faire when we lived near Monterey, CA, as well as a Greek festival and an Italian festival! We all went home still tapping our toes to traditional music numbers and with bellies full of wonderful new foods we’d tried.
Hit the library. In addition to the regular books (for all ages) one would think of, ask your librarian for DVDs about specific countries and ethnicities. One series we have really enjoyed is the shows from the Families of the World collection. These are narrated from a child’s perspective, but they can be interesting for the whole family. Don’t forget to grab some CDs of music by artists from countries that represent the many ways your target language is used!
Don’t ignore military bases! The military community is so diverse it’s amazing. Even if you aren’t in a language-focused MOS, there may be base resources you can make good use of. With a high concentration of foreign language speakers who are married to service members, there may even be folks on your local base who can point you to civilian gatherings as well or who are already familiar with your target language/culture. Then there are the military’s own programs: the Defense Language Institute (DLI) on the Presidio of Monterey, CA, offers huge multicultural experiences that are a hit for civilians and military alike. The students get an opportunity to practice their newfound language skills, of course; but the teachers and administrators are a resource that is often left untapped by those not in the know. Look in the phone book. It may sound a little simple, but it’s often one of the most forgotten steps. Look for listings of cultural halls, foreign language-focused church congregations, and community centers for speakers of your target language. Cultural holidays can be great learning experiences for your family; but be sure to ask the hosts about any restrictions (cameras, proper attire, etc) before attending.
Contact the guidance counselors of local high schools and colleges. Any school that hosts foreign exchange students can put you in touch with home stay agencies that may be hosting upcoming events and adventures. The schools themselves may host multi-cultural days open to the public as well.
Check those college class flyers! Some community colleges and universities offer “enrichment only” classes where students can learn to cook Thai food, practice conversational Korean, or go on “shopping” field trips to areas with a large German, Filipino, or Chinese population. Most of these classes are open to teens; ask the instructor if younger children are welcome as well. Some colleges will allow younger students with a parent or guardian present as long as the applicable fees are paid.
Pay a visit to base spouse clubs. As with the FRG, the spouses involved in these organizations have connections – and they represent a much broader scope than that of your own unit’s family resource group. While standard protocols for fraternization should of course be observed, most people are happy to provide a “heads up” about local cultural events, tidbits about places they’ve lived, or favorite recipes from their country or region.