Date post: | 19-Jul-2015 |
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GLN History September 2005: Andrew Brown
founds GLN as a student organization at The George Washington University
September 2006: Zarko joins the student organization
August 2008: GLN is officially incorporated as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization
Since 2005: GLN has engaged over 400 teachers and offered close to 500 classes to 6,000 people in more than 60 different languages
Global change by empowering individuals and communities through the gift of language and culture
Vision:
Advance language learning by:•Offering classes in common and less commonly taught languages•Making language learning affordable and effective•Facilitating cross-cultural interaction and exchange
Mission:
GLN Mission & Vision
2 people full-time staff: Zarko
(President), Karyn (Executive Coordinator)
Executive Board: 6 Vice Presidents, our
Senior Management
Organizational Volunteers: we have 50+
active organizational volunteers
Teacher Volunteers: we have 60+ active
teacher volunteers
GLN is Volunteer-run
GLN is Volunteer-runTeacher Volunteers
Teacher: manage and lead a language class of 5 – 20 adult students for at least one GLN semester
Teaching Assistant (TA): provide support to the main teacher in many different areas
Organizational Volunteers
“Officers” – have an official title with specific duties and responsibilities
“Associates” – work on discrete projects and serve on GLN committees,
“Free Agents” – are involved with different projects at different times and help out where and when they can without a clearly defined role or commitment.
GLN’s Unique Model Volunteer Teachers: our teachers’
dedication and enthusiasm make it all possible
Organizational Volunteers: our volunteers’ skills and energy driveGLN’s development
Partnerships: our partners host our language classes
Deposit system: our deposit system ensures good attendance and makes our classes accessible
Culture
Communication
Competence
Connections
Collaboration
Communities
ConfidenceOur learning environment
and approach buildsconfidence to use a
foreign language, which is the heart of the GLN
experience.
By studying other languages, we gain a knowledge and understanding of the cultures that use that language and, in
fact, cannot truly master the language until we have also mastered the cultural contexts in which the language occurs.
Insight and direct experience with a target language and
culture enables individuals to participate in, and transform, multilingual communities at
home and around the globe in a variety of contexts and in culturally appropriate ways.
Through sharing and collaboration, students,
teachers, volunteers, and staff build relationships that foster passion and commitment to lifelong
language learning.
Competence requires the ability to effectively use
linguistic and social knowledge to communicate
in meaningful and appropriate ways with users
of other languages.
Language is a tool that can establish connections to additional knowledge and networks and build relationships with people
that may be unavailable to the monolingual speaker.
Communication, whether face-to-face, in writing, or through reading, depends upon how a person uses language, culture, and
experience to send, receive, and interpret messages.
The GLN Approach
Three Golden Rules:
Create a comfortable and interactive learning environment
Immerse students in the language and culture
Provide opportunities for students to speak and practice in the target language
GLN focuses on oral communication. We strive to develop practical skills and build students’ confidence to use the language in any situation.
The GLN Class Lively and full of energy and enthusiasm Teacher and students collaborate as learning partners and
communicate in the target language Teacher follows a thematically-based curriculum
Oral communication is the focus Grammar/structure is interwoven (not taught directly) Reading and writing is featured, but not the focus No designated textbook: teacher provides handouts and other
resources
No tests, grades or credit Online class page: a forum for students to interact and for
teacher to upload materials and resources. GLN marries the shared passion and motivation of teachers to
teach and students to learn!
GLN Student Tips
Be courteous to your classmates and teacher
Stay positive and don’t hesitate to ask for help
Speak in the target language
Spend at least a couple of hours outside of class to review and stay in touch with the language
Share relevant resources, events around town, etc. with your classmates and teacher
Put in as much as you want to get out of
Have fun!
GLN Class LevelsBeginner Module
Foreigner (Beginner I)
Tourist (Beginner II)
Explorer (Beginner III)
Higher Level Module
Frequent Flyer (Intermediate)
Nearly Native (Advanced)
Now What? Go to class and contact us with feedback,
comments, concerns
Get involved as a teacher (or tell your friends to apply)
Get involved as an organizational volunteer (or tell your friends to do so)
“Fan” us on Facebook
“Follow” us on Twitter
“Subscribe” to our blog (thegln.org/blog )
Attend our events (look out on Facebookand Twitter for notifications)
Invest in GLN!