The Concordia Language Villages in Minnesota offer a unique opportunity for language learners to immerse themselves in various cultures and languages.
- Eight languages spoken by Dave Huxtable, a British polyglot
- 40,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, “Dave Huxtable Languages”
- Concordia Language Villages offer a chance to learn languages in a simulated environment
Located in the Northwoods of Minnesota, the Concordia Language Villages are an ideal destination for language learners, polyglots, and culture enthusiasts alike. The villages offer a chance to learn languages in a simulated environment, where participants can engage with native speakers and immerse themselves in the culture of the country they are learning.
- History of the Concordia Language Villages
- First permanent site, the Norwegian Language Village, began construction in 1969
- The villages have grown to 875 acres and feature multiple language villages
The Concordia Language Villages have a rich history, dating back to the 1960s. The first permanent site, the Norwegian Language Village, began construction in 1969, and soon afterward, sites for the German Language Village and the French Language Village were established. The most recent addition to the site is the Korean Language Village, which opened in the summer of 2024.
| Site | Language | Year Opened |
| Skogfjorden | Norwegian | 1969 |
| Waldsee | German | 1970s |
| Lac du Bois | French | 1980s |
| Sup sogui Hosu | Korean | 2024 |
The key to learning a language, according to Associate Director of Programs Marty Fankhanel, is language immersion. This means that participants are immersed in the language and culture of the country they are learning, rather than just learning it in a classroom or through textbooks.
“We create a simulation here at the villages, but it’s a simulation that we try to make as real as possible,” said Associate Director of Programs Marty Fankhanel. “We’re bringing in staff from overseas, connecting young people to them. … We’re just one way in which the world is becoming more interconnected in a meaningful way.”
“What we try to do is bring the culture and the language to life,” said Senior Program Director Martin Graefe. “In the program here, there’s no ‘homework.’ It’s all through meaningful contact and the daily activities that the kids like to do.”
The trio of Huxtable, Fankhanel, and Graefe visited several sites, detailing the history and development of each specifically as well as the property generally. “I’ve loved finding out about the teaching philosophy, and it very much gels with my idea of how people successfully learn language,” said Huxtable. “The fact that it’s successful creates a path for future learning.”
- Native speakers from various countries
- Simulated environment
- Meaningful contact and daily activities
The Concordia Language Villages employ a range of language immersion techniques, including the use of native speakers from various countries, a simulated environment, and meaningful contact and daily activities.
- Improved language skills
- Cultural understanding and appreciation
- Increased confidence in communication
The benefits of language immersion include improved language skills, cultural understanding and appreciation, and increased confidence in communication.
- Upcoming visit with Bemidji State Ojibwe professor Anton Treuer
- Return to Southern California with a new video
- Continued sharing of language learning techniques with his audience
Dave Huxtable has announced that he will be returning to Southern California with a new video featuring his visit to the Concordia Language Villages and his upcoming visit with Bemidji State Ojibwe professor Anton Treuer. “Before I came here, (Bemidji) was just that place with the statue. I then find out that there’s this rich history, rich relationship with language — both Ojibwe language and those at the villages,” said Huxtable.