|
________________
Summer 2011 term
now open
The ACE Classes catalog is available at Fairfax County public libraries, county offices, job-placement centers, and ACE customer service centers.
A PDF of the catalog is available on our Website.
Did you know that parking is free, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-county residents, and most classes have textbooks delivered the first night of class?
|
|
Like Us!
If you would like to follow ACE on Facebook, type in Adult and Community Education Fairfax County Public Schools in the search box at the top of your profile page, then select Like.
____________________
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
The ACE World Language program is delighted to expand its class offerings this summer with Estonian Culture. Tallinn was named "European Cultural Capital" for the year 2011, so what better time to bring you this class?
Instructor Külli Pytsal is a native Estonian and multi-talented in the arts and crafts of Estonia including the intricate multi-colored knitting for which the country is especially famous. See Külli's article below for a sneak peek at this one-of-a-kind class.
Get a taste of the culture and traditions of Estonia this summer, then expand your experience with Estonian language and Estonian knitting classes coming in fall.
Your friends at ACE.
|
|
 Estonia - Young Country With Old Traditions
The cultural capital of Europe for 2011
What and where is Estonia? Do polar bears live in Estonia? Why is Estonia called a "singing nation?" Why do Estonians like to light a big bonfire once a year, and what is külakiik? And who or what is actually an Estonian?
We would like to offer you a chance to find an answer to these questions and many more.
Since Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, is celebrated as the cultural capital of Europe for 2011, we invite you to discover a young country with a long and colorful history and a culture thousands of years old.
The settlement of modern day Estonia began around 8500 BCE, immediately after the Ice Age. But their Declaration of Independence was issued in 1918 - less than a hundred years ago. Even this small time period of freedom and independency involved 50 long years of occupation.
Over the centuries, the Estonians were subjected to Danish, Teutonic, Polish, Swedish, German, Russian, and Soviet rule. Over time, a small nation with its own culture, language, and traditions survived, existed, and developed.
This class provides as opportunity to:
- gain knowledge about a small, but important, part of European history, culture, and politics
 | | Socks from Muhu Island |
- discover interesting facts of Estonian history and understand how the past formed today's Estonians and their vision for the future
- visit local Estonian communities hosting cultural events, including a May 7 visit to the Estonian Embassy to meet interesting people with Estonian roots and background
- explore Estonian folkdance, traditional food and drinks, and handicrafts with secret meanings in their patterns
- obtain information about Estonian cultural events in and around the Washington area.
Estonia - A Young Country With Old Traditions
FC06205 | $132
Monday, May 9 - June 20
Plum Center, Room 104
Instructor: Külli Pytsal
|
|
Is Language Learning Beneficial to the Brain?
by Instructor Jim Hodson
Unequivocally, yes! Recent studies support long-held theories that learning a second language improves ability to focus and can even delay the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms by up to four years.
These studies bring to mind a heart-warming experience I had with a mature student who had recently suffered a stroke. Don, a vibrant and energetic man, was struggling with diminished communication skills when he was encouraged to enroll in one of our advanced French classes. Bilingual from years of experience with the State Department, Don wasted no time engaging the class in colorful discussions relating to a novel we were reading. To his surprise and our delight, he experienced far fewer communicative difficulties in French than in his native English.
A unique occurrence? Evidently not, according to the latest studies. So remember, that when we engage in a particularly difficult grammar exercise, we're just trying to protect ourselves from some of life's difficult challenges!
View our world language offerings.
|
|
Spoken Language Interpreter Certificate
Prepare to become a qualified interpreter
ACE's Spoken Language Interpretation Certificate Program prepares individuals to become qualified interpreters in community and government settings.
This rigorous program requires students be fluent in English and another language, have oral and written skills at the college level, and have a minimum of two years of college education. A language skills test is required.
Weekly classes begin April 27; intensive classes begin April 30. Program details.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
