Fun with Foreign Language Blog

Well I can’t believe it is already December.  I hope everyone had a good holiday and great finish to the end of the fall session at Fun with Foreign Language.  I would like to reflect on the experience I have had while interning at Fun with Foreign Language and how much I enjoyed having had this opportunity.

I enjoyed meeting all the students, parents, and of course the fabulous Director Yani Peyton while working at the FwFL Towson location.  It was great to interact with each and every one of you and to be of assistance in any way possible.  I look forward to coming back in years to come to see the development of the Fun with Foreign Language program.

As a student without children I applaud all the parents who have enrolled their child in the FwFL program.  It is just one more activity to add to a child’s busy day, but the results down the road will be worth it.  Having not had an opportunity to learn a language while in elementary school, if I could have done it again I would have liked to have gone through a program that FwFL provides.  Learning another language and the culture behind,  really helps educate students learn about cultural diversity, a topic everyone should learn about.

Once again it was a pleasure meeting all of you and I enjoyed being able to interact with everyone through blogging, facebook, twitter, and of course at the Towson location.  Best of luck to everyone in the future!

So who would have thought it would be snowing Halloween weekend?  Well, I certainly didn’t see this coming.  This can be the official start of winter.  As exciting or sad the idea that winter is upon us, it brings lots of great sights of winter wonderland. 

Now, imagine being abroad in other countries, there are a couple things to think about here: 1) the sights, and 2) how do other countries deal with snow?  First, the sights are just as breathtaking as is the fall foliage.  Whether it’s seeing the Great Wall of China, or the city of Beijing, the scene is incredible.  Or if you’re in Spain or Mexico, snow is rare so if you are around to see it, enjoy it while it lasts. 

So I am sure you are all familiar with Baltimore and there snow removal process.  Clearly there are some pros and cons, but let’s put it into perspective compared to other places around the world.  In Spain, particularly Madrid for example since snow is so rare, even a nuisance amount of snow can paralyze a city for days.  Or in Beijing, snow isn’t the most common precipitation, but even a small storm of 1 inch of snow, can create a big problem for the city.

As this Halloween weekend storm comes to an end, let’s enjoy what Mother Nature has in store for us.  Enjoy the sites, drink some hot chocolate, and imagine the sites in other wonders of the world!  Until next time…stay warm!

Hello everyone!  Before my first blog I would like to introduce myself.  My name is Josh and I am the management intern with FwFl this fall semester.  I am an international business major and French minor at Towson University.  I am looking forward to having this opportunity to not only work with FwFl, but be able to communicate and enlighten students, and parents about culture and education around the world.

As the school year has recently begun for students in the United States, I believe it is very important to start fresh and with a good mind set.  Not only that, but students must be well rested and nourished.  So I wanted to start out by giving healthy snack ideas to help feed the brain which lets us learn.  These snacks can also represent different cultures.  First I think it is important to know what is negatively affecting our learning.

Foods to avoid while studying and learning:

-Potato Chips

-Unhealthy Dips and Spreads

-Processed Snacks

-Candy

-Soda

-Cookies and Cakes

-Fast Food

Now I understand that many of the foods which we all eat, myself included fall into the categories above.  What can happen is by consuming these foods; it can slow down the productivity of the brain and ultimately lead to fatigue.

Below is a list which I generated that incorporates different cultures foods that are not only healthy, but delicious as well.   They can help the brain work more efficiently and be more productive while learning.

-Baked Mexican Tortilla Chips

-Mexican Salsa

-Mediterranean Hummus

-Nuts

-Greek Yogurt

-Fruits

-Vegetables

-Juice

-Milk

But as you give the brain the proper nourishment, the results will come naturally.  Personally, when I need to be studying and doing homework, I will eat a nutritious snack from the list above.  I notice that I will not doze off and by not losing my concentration I can be productive for hours. 

By taking these recommendations into consideration, you can expect to see a change in energy while studying and learning in the classroom.  But also remember where some of these snacks originate from.  The world is a large place where people speak different languages, eat different foods, and have different lifestyles. 

I wish everyone luck as classes begin.  I look forward to meeting everyone in the coming weeks!