Language Ambush in Willimantic
The Language Ambush on October 20 at the Willimantic Third Thursday Streetfest yielded interesting results. E. O. Smith world language students asked community members “What is the date today?” in 12 different languages. Out of 180 respondents, only 12 could answer correctly, in the language. Another 22 understood the question and attempted an answer or translated it into English. A number of participants indicated that they spoke another language (other than the one they were questioned in). A high proportion of these said they learned the language in high school; for others it was their first language. The following languages are spoken by Willimantic area residents (randomly listed):
Spanish*, Latin*, German*, French*, Fon*, Korean*, Arabic*, Japanese*, Polish*, Swahili, Persian*, Hindi*, Hebrew, Croatian, Russian, Italian, Thai, Portuguese, Nepali*, Yiddish, and Greek. *Language Ambush language
For information about setting up your own language ambush or pop quiz, please consult the ACTFL Year of Languages web site at http://www.yearoflanguages.org and click on the link on “How To Stage a Pop Quiz.” You will receive detailed instructions on how to conduct this sort of event. For a helpful step-by-step guide in how to conduct your own 'language ambush', go to: http://yearoflanguages.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageid=3698.
