September 26, 2020
For the time being, face-to-face Meetups at a local brew pub in Eindhoven are unfortunately not possible. That didn't stop representatives from heritage language programs and from the Expat Center from having a catch-up chat in honor of the European Day of Languages this September. The virtual Meetup was "kort en krachtig" on a Thursday evening, from the comfort of our homes. We found out from each other how our programs coped with the lock down in the Netherlands in March and what it was like to open up again this school year, with extra safety precautions. There were a few common themes: the fact that being forced to go online brought heritage language programs together across the world that otherwise would not have (urgently) connected, the fact that several of the programs now feel confident that they have a good back-up plan if face-to-face lessons have to be stopped again, the fact that older students have an easier time switching to an online learning format than younger children, and the fact that the students were really pleased to see each other again in person after the long hiatus. The next Meetup will be scheduled for February 2021, in honor of UNESCO Mother Tongue Day. Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed.
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