Where is class being held?
The class is being held in the Clyde Hill area at the First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue. The address is 1717 Bellevue Way Northeast, Bellevue, WA 98004-2853. This is the same location where the Persian Language Camp in 2010 was held. It is a wonderful facility that charges A.C.E. the best rate in the area.
Click here to download detailed directions, campus map, and the drop-off/pick-up procedures.

What are the camp hours?
Camp hours are 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, Monday - Friday, during the weeks of August 1, 2011 - August 12, 2011.

What ages can attend?*
Students who are entering 1st - 8th grade in the fall of 2011, may attend the class. * Students who participated in the fall 2010 Saturday classes are grandfathered into the 2011 camp regardless of age/grade.

Does my child have to speak Persian in order to attend camp?
No. Any child, no matter what his/her native language might be, may attend camp. We will be designing and customizing the curriculum as well as dividing students into groups determined by age and language level once we receive all of the registration forms and language surveys.

What is the cost?**
$400 per week. The total cost of $800 covers 60 hours of Persian Language Instruction for this 2 week camp. **Students must sign up for the full two weeks.

What about scholarships?
No. Unfortunately, we will not have any scholarship or grant money available. This year's camp will be funded only by tuition.

May students start after the first day of camp?
No. We have found that it is best for the students and teachers when everyone starts camp on the same day.The students will benefit the most when they start at the beginning of the session.Adding late students compromises the integrity of the instruction and learning of the entire class as each day builds on the previous one.

How will my child's time be spent at Persian Camp?
Camp is full of games, songs, art, physical activities and more, all of which will be facilitated in the Persian language. Even though we will be teaching the alphabet, numbers and some sight words that coincide with the different themes of the week, students will not be sitting at a desk reading and writing as in a traditional-style classroom setting. Please see below for our explanations of "Second Language Teaching Methods" to better understand how classes are facilitated in the Persian language.

How many students will be in the camp?
We are excepting 20 to 25 students.

How do we sign up?
Click on the following web address to download the 2011 Persian Language Camp application packet. Download registration/application here.

Who is the teacher?
The camp's Lead Instructor is Ms. Shahrzad Shams, M.A., Lecturer, UW. The rest of A.C.E.'s teaching staff is comprised of very dedicated and energetic teachers. All A.C.E. teachers go through an interview process, must have experience, and go through a background check. Each teacher has a strong background in teaching and training in the Natural Approach and Total Physical Response methods supported by A.C.E. for language and culture learning. Ms. Shams and the teaching assistants will send a short introduction of themselves shortly before camp starts.

What types of Second Language Teaching Methods does A.C.E. use in the classroom and how much of the class is taught ONLY in Farsi?

The A.C.E. World Language Program incorporates several goals and combines several teaching methods. Below is a summary of our goals and the methods A.C.E. uses as well as an explanation of how we implement these into our classes.

A.C.E. Goals:

• Create awareness of other cultures through languages.
• Provide a positive experience with a new language.
• Introduce vocabulary and phrases through authentic, engaging activities.
• Spark interest in further study.

Teaching Methods:
The methods we use were first established over 25 years ago by Dr. Stephen Krashen, Dr. Tracy D. Terrell and Dr. James Asher. Termed "The Natural Approach" and "Total Physical Response," these methods are supported by language professionals nationwide. As recommended by Krashen, Terrell and Asher, our teachers focus on communication rather than language form. During this process, with plenty of language input from the teacher, comprehension precedes speech production. Each child's speech will emerge naturally, when the student is ready. These methods encourage children to follow the natural pattern of language acquisition that they did when they were first learning to speak.

How these methods are used in the classroom:
The curriculum for immersion programs is intended to provide maximum exposure and minimum translation process. We are trying to achieve this goal while keeping our children interested in continuing the program. The child has to experience success in order to want to continue. At times this support requires a short explanation, comment or reminder to keep the child motivated. I do not know of any immersion programs other than pre-school set ups that do not use other than target languages at times. As for the Farsi vs. English/Farsi concerns, our curriculum does not require translation and uses the target language 100%. The student will learn as long as the student "participates". Our goal is not to use any other language. However, a concurrent goal is to preserve and promote confidence and interest in the child to motivate him/her to participate and use the language and value the learning of Farsi. If in the achievement of this goal, the teacher needs to utilize another language as a tool, then she uses her discretion as to when and where she needs to use this tool knowing that the success of the program is in minimizing the use of translation.

How fluent will my child be after the camp is finished?
The current goal of the foreign language curriculum is exposure, comfort, and enthusiasm towards learning a new language and culture. By using the Natural Approach and TPR teaching methods mentioned above, a low anxiety environment is created while exposing students to the target language. The students will progress through a series of natural stages as they become more proficient in the target language. There are five stages that are recognized in the Natural Approach: 1) the silent period or early production, 2) early speech, 3) speech emergence or extending production, 4) intermediate fluency and, 5) full proficiency. In the first stage, the silent period, students are introduced to the target language through games, songs, chants, and lessons to teach target vocabulary. At this point the students are listening, comprehending and using non-verbal responses. The first stage is many times overlapped with the second stage of early speech wherein the students are beginning to verbalize the language using single words and short utterances. The third stage of extending production is when the students start using phases and sentences to have short dialogues. While students are in the fourth stage, intermediate fluency, their short dialogues will move into extended dialogues with fewer and fewer grammatical mistakes. In fact, it may very much seems as though they have become fully proficient and reached the fifth stage when their language skills are matched with the students of their same age and grade that have grown up speaking the target language as their first. It takes time to move through the stages in order to become "fluent" in a target language, just like it did when we were learning our first language. Sixty hours of instruction is not enough time for a child to acquire "full -fluency". The level of fluency that your child will obtain through the camp session depends a lot on the foundation that your child has in the target language. Those students who have an environment at home where the target language is spoken will have an advantage to those who don't. Our camp provides an excellent basis for future study whether or not your child speaks Persian at home. Moreover, whether your child is a beginner or more advanced speaker, the camp is still helpful in providing a foundation for advancing your child's studies in the years to come.

Does my child need to bring lunch and/or snacks?
Yes. Please pack your child lunch, 2 snacks and water for each day.

Does my child need to bring classroom materials?
Yes. Please send colored pencils, regular pencil, notebook with paper and an eraser in a ziplock baggie or secured in their notebook. Please label all items sent with you child with first and last names. Please send all items in a bag or backpack with your child's name on it.

What kind of clothing should my child wear?
Your child may dress in clothing that is comfortable for a variety of activities. However, please send him/her with proper shoes and clothing for the gym and rainy weather. If needed, for the young ones, an extra change of clothes

What if I need to drop my child off early before the camp starts?
Talk to us about your concerns. We may be able to arrange something.

Will transportation be provided?
We do not provide any transportation.

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