Language Immersion Group Visits Luxembourg from America

A group of ten Luxembourg language students are currently on a two-week visit to the Grand Duchy as part of a language immersion field trip; organised by the Luxembourg American Cultural Society (LACS) in Wisconsin (US), the classes started are held weekly online.

The students are all dual citizens who are interested in learning more about their heritage, with the visit's itinerary including a wander around a Vide Grenier (flea market), attending a local mass and exploring Luxembourg city by way of a "City Promenade", a visit through the Casemates and to some of the city's museums, as well as experiencing the 24th edition of the Nuit des Musées (Museum Night) last Saturday evening.

The group has also taken in other sightseeing locations outside Luxembourg City, with a walk in Mullerthal, a visit to the University of Luxembourg in Esch-Belval, and tours around Echternach and also Vianden Chateau also included in their busy schedule.

The group has also enjoyed wine tasting and even took part in a Jeu de Quilles evening in Heffingen, near Larochette, and is scheduling a visit to the École d’Hôtellerie et de Tourisme du Luxembourg (EHTL) in Diekirch to prepare some Luxembourg dishes.

Three visits to the Lenster Lycée in Junglinster are included in the group's itinerary for formal two-hour language classes.

There, Chronicle.lu caught up with the group and talked with one of the participants, Todd Marciniak, who is also an LACS Board Member; he explained: "Early members of the LACS, particularly Mary Flierl, set up a class some years ago whereby locals could gather to study and review the Luxembourg language, compare it to the language or words they remembered from their parents and discuss Luxembourgish culture, etc. Covid necessitated the creation of a zoom class, and since then the class only meets online, but this allowed for new students from around the US to participate".

He continued: "About one and a half years ago, some in the group began work on a Luxembourgish language immersion trip, whereby class members interested improving their skills and attempting elementary conversations could work together with Luxembourgish speaking Luxembourgers. It is an individual participation project meaning everyone took care of their own expenses. Roots & Leaves - mainly Marc Zimer - put together the outline of a study programme and there is an intent to use it as a prototype for future course trips if possible".

Another member of the group, Angeline Desotelle, from Wisconsin, also talked with Chronicle.lu and stated: "I've been trying to learn the [Luxembourgish] language. My parents spoke Luxembourgish at home, but as a child I did not learn it other than a few words, and I've been studying it. I've come here with a group and this is an immersion trip which has really given me the opportunity to try and speak the language and learn from the people - that to me has been fantastic, it has helped tremendously. The people here have been just wonderful as to being helpful - if you can't get something on one language, they help with another."

When asked what aspect of the trip she has enjoyed the most, she confirmed: "I have enjoyed the schools the most; watching how they teach the language here, as against how we teach languages in our schools [back home]. It has given me ideas to come back and teach or to make suggestions to our class on how we should be trying to teach it to other people that are in the same situation as I am, wanting to learn the language of their parents or their grandparents... The classes are being taught through activities, and the teachers explaining it to the group, in Luxembourgish and in their native tongues".

ED