LA HISTORIA DE CLV
In 1960, Dr. Gerhard Haukebo, a Concordia College faculty member, suggested the college initiate an experimental program using immersion techniques to teach language. The intent of the program was to teach young people about other languages and cultures, while giving Concordia students the opportunity to gain practical experience teaching children.
Concordia sponsored the project in 1961. The college rented Luther Crest Bible Camp, north of Alexandria, Minnesota, for the first two-week German Session. Camp Waldsee, which was limited to 72 nine-to 12-year-olds, was a resounding success.
Interest in the program increased steadily and more "villages" were organized. First came French (1962), then Spanish and Norwegian (1963), followed by Russian (1966), Swedish (1975), Finnish (1978), Danish (1982), Chinese (1984), Japanese (1988), and most recently English (1999) and Korean (1999).
Construction of the permanent sites on Turtle River Lake began in 1969, starting with Skogfjorden, the Norwegian Language Village. Waldsee, the German Language Village, began to take shape in 1978, and construction of Lac du Bois, the French Language Village, began in 1988. Salolampi, the Finnish Language Village, opened in 1993. Groundbreaking for El Lago del Bosque, the Spanish Language Village, began in 1998.
Concordia Language Villages has had four directors over the last 35 years. Dr. Gerhard Haukebo, director from 1961-1966, began the first German language immersion program in 1961. He was followed as director by Vernon Mauritsen from 1967 to 1971. Odell Bjerkness was the director from 1972 to 1989. Christine Schulze has been the director of Concordia Language Villages since 1990.
Over the years, Concordia Language Villages has been visited by numerous dignitaries and supporters, including His Majesty King Olav V of Norway (1983), Germany's Ambassadors Peter Hermes (1983) and Gunther van Well (1987), Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson (1991), and Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton (1991 and 1992).
Concordia Language Villages has been the subject of extensive press coverage. The program has been featured in Time magazine; in the New York Times and Better Homes and Gardens; on "Sunday Morning" with Charles Kuralt; on KSTP-TV's "Explore Minnesota" program; on Swedish television; on Public Television; on Norwegian radio NRK; on Channel One (a national educational station); on the German station ZDF and on the CBS morning talk show "This Morning".
As interest in Concordia Language Villages grew, the program expanded to include abroad programs, Academic Year Weekend Programs and seminars for language teachers.
Each summer the 12 villages host more than 5,500 students from all 50 states and many other countries.