July 1st-10th, 2024
languageloftofroatan
welcome educators!
Here at the Language Loft we are busy preparing for the Summer Language Retreat for Educators! Are you interested in studying Spanish, taking part in cultural tours for a more informed educational practice, and relaxing and soaking up a bit of sun on Roatan? You’re in the right place!
The Language Loft of Roatan Retreat offers Spanish crash courses in a relevant cultural setting, where educators can finally take a moment to learn new information, reflect, and relax. They may also choose to earn up to 4 graduate credits!
The 9-day retreat will take play July 1st-10th, 2024 on Roatan!
Overall Retreat Description:
As the United States and Canada receive students from the Golden Triangle, ESL teachers often become the liasion between schools, local organizations, and families. They provide language support, emotional and cultural support, among other accommodations for their students. While they must be sensitive to the cultural backgrounds of learners from all over the world, they may struggle to recognize the uniquenesses of students from Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, and El Salvador, among other Central American countries. Teachers may even be working with native English speakers to standardize English creoles, also common to the Western Caribbean. While these students may share many cultural similarities, this course will expose teachers to the economic and social backgrounds of learners, as well as provide language tips for communicating effectively with a diverse group of individuals who are often classified as a single cultural group. While language is the main focus of this retreat, powerful insights can be gained about the diversity of Spanish speakers throughout the Caribbean.
Summer spanish course elements
What is Included in the Summer Spanish Language Courses?
Morning classes:
Students will attend 20 hours of classroom instruction in Spanish, and complete a final journal about the ways this instruction has informed their teaching practices. Each student will set out goals for improved communication, and work within the curriculum to improve those goals. Coupled with afternoon excursions, students will have the opportunity to use their Spanish in real life.
Emphasis will be on everyday language of Central America, rather than textbook Spanish. Students will learn 10-20 go-to phrases per day and learn how to replace elements of structure in order to create their own meaning.
Classes will be held at the Language Loft from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., with some consideration for cultural tours. *See syllabus. Breakfast and lunch will be catered and served on-site at the Language Loft.
General Course Features:
- personalized vocabulary and instruction
- structural building
- role play and conversation practice
- Spanish book and English instructional materials for new English learners (Spanish language based)
- Individual login and annual access to all Courses in our LMS Platform.
- immersion style activities combined with grammar instruction in English
- meetings and tours with real Spanish speakers and seasoned educators
Click here to download general itinerary:
Cultural Tours
Cayos Cochinos Excursion: An amazing opportunity to connect with the unique cultures of the Bay Islands!
Each afternoon teachers will have the opportunity to take part in planned tours and activities. Tours include school tours, visits to Maya Key, home visits, medicinals plant walk, a historical tour of the cultural history of the islands and Central America’s Golden Triangle, music lessons, and more!
What’s included:
- land transportation to and from the airport and other excursions (school, Maya Key etc.)
- sea transportation to Cayos Cochinos
- exposure to the diverse cultures of the Caribbean and Honduran mainland
- school visit and typical home visit
- Q&A session with local school administrators
- visit to Maya Key, and Wild Medicinals Plant Walk, Cayos Cochinos Excursion, school visit, intro dinner, farewell dinner
- optional: 4 hours graduate credit through Dominican University of California
- personalized Instruction and Review of Project Plans (second reader support)
West End, Roatan, Honduras
accommodation
All retreat participants will stay in West End, Roatan– a touristy beachside village with everything within walking distance from the Language Loft. West End is a vibrant beach town, but has a local feel with many native islanders and mainlanders as inhabitants. Unlike the lovely, yet resort dominated area of West Bay, West End offers greater cultural diversity and easy access to other areas on the island.
Hotels and accommodation are mid-to-high range, clean, and often cater to divers and vacationers who enjoy modern accommodations within context of infrastructural limitations of the island. West End is a safe village which thrives on tourist activities. While teachers will lay their heads in West End, we will tour many other parts of the island. Both English and Spanish are widely spoken on the West End of Roatan. Most accommodations vary between $100-$200/night with air-conditioning, a mini refrigerator, private bathroom (shared among 2 participants in shared accommodation) and two double beds. Shared rooms are less expensive per individual. Shared accommodation may include a private bath in a small condominium, or individual bathrooms. What’s Included in your accommodation:
- Transportation to an from airport, on scheduled arrival and departure days (We will try to accommodate other arrivals dates as well, not guaranteed)
- Breakfast and lunch daily, welcome and farewell dinners
- Hotel stay with air-conditioning ($2750/shared lodging, $3226/pp private room)
- Fabulous sunsets!
