New Year, New Language
January 2011
In This Issue
Learn Another Language…Keep the Mind Sharp
Infant Development and Language
The Veneto Wine Region
A Merry Christmas for Haitian Children
Quick Links
Adult French Classes

* Beginning French Class – Level 1
* Beginning French Class – Level 2
* Beginning French Class – Level 4
* Continuing Beginning French Class- Level 2
* Intermediate French Class – Level 2
* Continuing Advanced French Class – Level 2

Children French Classes

* Learn to Speak French After School for Kids – Level 1
* Mommy and Me Program
* Winter Camp in French for Kids

Adult Italian Classes

* Beginning Italian Class –
Level 1
* Continuing Intermediate Italian – Level 1

Adult Russian Classes

* Beginning Russian Class – Level 1

Children Russian Classes

* Learn to Speak Russian After School for Kids – Level 1

Adult Spanish Classes

* Beginning Spanish Class – Level 1

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Visit the Union Gables Website

A Special Thank You!

Thank you to the businesses which promote the Language Learning Institute!

* Ultraviolet Café
Albany, NY
(518) 434-0333

* Delaware News
Albany, NY
(518) 465-4232

* Java Jazz Café
Delmar, NY
(518) 439-1727

* Emack & Bolio’s
Albany, NY

* Stewart’s
Delmar, NY
(518) 439-3280
Corner of Elm and Delaware Avenue

* Epicurean Café
Troy, NY
(518) 663-8008

* Chez Daisie
Schenectady, NY
(518) 344-7082

* Le Serre Restaurant
Albany, NY
(518) 463-6056

Stop by and get a good meal, gift, or check out our latest promotional material!

Thanks to Our Sponsors!

We would like to thank our sponsors for providing valuable space for our classes and events.

* Chez Daisie Crêperie
Schenectady, NY

* Bethany Christian Services
Clifton Park, NY

* Christ the King Episcopal Church
New Paltz, NY

* St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
Delmar, NY

* Colonie Christian Life Center
Colonie, NY

* Berkshire Bank Colonie/Niskayuna
Colonie, NY

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topDear nancy,
Nancy
Happy New Year!

2011! It just seems like yesterday that we were turning the corner on the new millennium, and here we are celebrating the dawning of the eleventh year into it. We would like to welcome all new subscribers to our newsletter and give a warm welcome back to all of our current readers.

As we say good-bye to 2010 we look back on our accomplishments for this year. We launched our Cultural Series with three events: Introduction to Russian Folk Music, A Tour of France, Germany, Italy and Russia through Classical Music, and the Welcoming in of the Beaujolais Nouveau. We started offering Russian and made firm plans for the start of our Spanish program which will begin on January 12th. We created a presence on Facebook and are acquiring a nice following. Once again, I had the privilege of being part of a panel at SUNY Albany: Careers in Foreign Languages where I was able to share with young people my experiences in using French in my career. Our current class schedule in French and Italian expanded in enrollment and numbers of courses offered. And we ended the year with news from one of our students whose work in our French program allowed her to receive credit in a Language School abroad. In our fourth year, we are beginning to take our place in not only our immediate surroundings but internationally as well.

It was quite a year.

As we look ahead to 2011, we have been planning quite a bit for the year ahead. And we are very excited about our January line-up!

We have two guest writers in this month’s newsletter. Kathleen Gates is from Gatesway Health and Massage and Dr. Christina Cothren, who was brought on board in early October to teach Dutch. The common thread for both of these writers is health. Kathleen is a wonderful massage therapist who works with not only adults, but also infants. This very important work promotes healthy development of the baby and she addresses this eloquently in her article. Dr. Cothren, a native of the Netherlands and a trained School Psychologist, addresses the benefits of language study to promote healthy brain function and ward off Alzheimer’s disease.

Our January courses bring to you After School Programs in French and Russian for Children, as well as a Winter Camp in French, from February 21st through the 25th. This is a wonderful and fun way to spend the February vacation! For the little ones ages 8 weeks to 4/5 years of age, we are offering our Mommy and Me program: an amazing way to spend quality time with your little one. This is the best time to be exposed to another language. Our January special event is on January 29th. It is the Fête des Rois, which is a month long celebration in France; come play games, sing songs, bake a cake, and see who will be crowned king or queen of the fête! This event is for children and adults. Bring the whole family!

Also in January, for adults, we are offering Beginning Italian, Beginning French, Beginning Spanish and Beginning Russian. Our established classes have open enrollment and welcomes newcomers: Continuing Intermediate Italian, Continuing Beginning French, Intermediate French, and Advanced French. Our courses are presented in levels so that a student can find a course that is at their level.

We also offer private lessons which afford the student more flexibility.Do you want to practice speaking French? Come join us at Chez Daisie on January 15th at 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

We are proud to say that we have something for everyone and in 2011; we will be able to hold classes in your workplace during the day or after work.

Keep checking out our site at www.LanguageLearningInstitute.com, pass our newsletter on and invite your friends to subscribe, and join us on Facebook for all of the latest updates.

We look forward to seeing you in class, at our events, and in our Social Media.

From all of us at The Language Learning Institute to all of our treasured readers, students and business associates, we wish you a wonderful, prosperous and healthy New Year.

Best regards,
signature
Nancy Scarselletta

By Christina Hellendoorn-Cothren

Many people today are dealing with more and more serious health conditions at home…at least for longer periods of time before other care is sought after. One of these conditions is Ahzheimer’s. A chronic and heart-breaking disease, it strikes many families in the core. Most often the afflicted person’s long term memories remain intact longest…and recent memories pass by as if not even noticed just moments before… Recognition of loved ones comes and goes…and eventually disappears altogether. For this disease, though studied for some time now, a cure remains elusive. The utter sadness of not being recognized by one’s close family member, so often a mother, cannot truly be understood until experienced. Often the person with Alzheimer’s is otherwise in good, even excellent health…so many remain at home. Also, being in familiar surroundings slows down symptoms of the developing memory losses…everyday routines remain implanted in long term memory while novel circumstances and information that happens while engaged in such familiar routines escapes recognition just moments later.

There are some advances however. Interestingly, during the past few years studies have confirmed what might come as no surprise to some…learning another language correlates with protection against Alzheimer’s and Dementia during the later years in life! Studies demonstrate correlations that people who have what is referred to as a “cognitive reserve” measured through “idea density” ward off the detrimental effects of these conditions/diseases (Phend, 2009). Reviews of several articles addressing these studies inform this article (Phend, 2009; Rogers, 2007; Sharples, 2009). Results include information that could help the elderly at risk for Alzheimer’s and/or Dementia. Their families and those at risk themselves would be interested to know that:

* People who possess complex language skills early in life may well safeguard later cognitive/memory deterioration
* Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging shows that 21% of those people studied, regardless of noted placques and lesions in brain tissues, have intact cognitive functioning
* People with “more cognitive ability and more neural tissue to start with-sharper minds broadly-may be better able to withstand the ravages of age” (Sharples, 2009)
* Both males and females were represented in the studies
* That a Canadian study published in the journal Neuropsychologie “…shows bilingualism has protective effects in delaying onset of dementia by four years” even after variables such as cultural differences, immigration, formal education, employment and gender are considered (Rogers, 2007)

Further, the Canadian study mentioned above urged Dr. Morris Freeman, head of the Division of Neurology and director of a prominent memory clinic, to state that “…there are no pharmacological interventions that are this dramatic.”

Reviewing the articles listed in the reference section will surely proved inspiring…learning another language is not only a wonderful way to enter another culture, an exciting endeavor for most; such learning seems a healthy choice for maximizing cognitive functioning throughout the life span! Not only will family members want to learn more about these findings, folks might well want to begin studying another language together. This learning experience will not only bring the excitement of new cultural experiences and conversation, it will likely include the health benefits of being able to have meaningful family relationships longer!

Christina Hellendoorn-Cothren teacher of Dutch through the Language Learning Institute. A native of the Netherlands, she has lived in the US since age 12 and is trained/works as a School Psychologist.

References

* Phend, C. (2009.) Early language abilities may protect memory decades later-Language skills may ward off Alzheimer’s, Dementia. Med Page Today. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AlzheimersNews/story?id=8035304&page=1
* Rogers, A. (2007.) Language, Brains, and Alzheimers. Wired Science. www.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/01/language_brains/

* Sharples, T. (2009). Can language skills ward off Alzheimer’s? A nuns’ study. Time. www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1909420,00.html

There are several categories that encompass Infant Development. They include: Social, Language, Large motor development, and Small motor development. Infant massage helps infants to develop in all of these aspects. By providing nurturing touch and an optimal environment, parents and caregivers can begin to see the progress of their infant’s development and introduction to language.

Language refers to receptive language development (how well baby actually understands) and is a better gage of progress than expressive language development (how well baby actually speaks). Slow language development can indicate a vision or hearing problem and should be evaluated (1). But most babies encourage us with responses even from an early age.

Parents and Caregivers can encourage development by focusing on pragmatic skills. These include:

* knowing that you have to answer when a question has been asked,
* participating in a conversation by turn taking,
* noticing and responding to non-verbal cues,
* maintaining topic/attention,
* keeping appropriate eye contact (not too much staring or looking away).

Infants develop at varying levels and that includes language. Cooing and early sounds can be repeated back to infants to let them know you are hearing them and listening. The important area to watch is that language development proceeds steadily, not whether it is slow or fast (2). Massage for infants provides the perfect format and time to experience these wonderful interactions. Additionally, games, music and one-on-one, eye-to-eye contact will enhance these interactions.

(1,2) Brown, C. (1998). Speech and language development in infants and young children. Retrieved on 12/26/10 from http://www.speech-language-therapy.com/devel1.htm

Kathleen Gates, is a NYS Licensed Massage Therapist. Since graduating from the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in 1999, Kathleen has been serving families with massage to address stress and injuries while promoting the benefits of relaxation. In addition to working with adults, Kathleen also holds a Certification in Infant Massage Instruction CIMI) through International Loving Touch Foundation, Inc. The classes are especially designed for parents, grandparents and caregivers to address infants needs such as colic, prematurity, intestinal difficulties and to promote bonding and relaxation.

Please visit our website for more information and to register for classes: www.gateswayhealth.com
The Veneto Wine Region
by Eleonora Morrell

Lago di Garda

Located in northeastern Italy, the Veneto wine region encompasses the cities of Venice and Verona, and is the largest wine region in that part of the country. The Verona landscape is mixed, with hills to the north, the Adriatic Sea to the southeast, and rolling plains in the central part of the region. Veneto includes the wine districts of Bardolino, Soave, Valpolicella, and Prosecco di Congliano-Valdobbiadene.

History and Tradition

The Romans founded the cities of Verona, Vicenza, and Padova, and named what was then the 10th imperial region, Venetia. Both the Veneto region and the province of Venezia derive their names from the original Latin name of the area. Between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th centuries following the opening of the Suez Canal, Venice became an important port city. Easy access to trade led to a thriving economy. With money came an appreciation for finely crafted things, such Murano glass and finely crafted wines. The quality of winemaking within the region quickly became the highest and most state-of-the-art on the planet. Beyond Venice, the climate of Veneto made wine production low maintenance and the nurturing grape vines almost easy. The size of the region and its differing conditions from border to border allow for nearly every type of grape to grow in a climate seemingly tailored to its needs. That’s why the region is able to produce such a wide spectrum of wines.
Grape Vines
The Wines

Veneto is among the foremost wine-producing regions, both for quality and quantity. The region counts over 20 DOC zones and a variety of sub-categories, many of its wines, both dry and Spumanti, are internationally known and appreciated. The creation of the very first Italian school for vine growing and oenology in 1885 highlights the importance of winemaking in this region. Veneto’s growers are among the most modernized in Italy. The three most well-known DOCs are Bardolino, from the town with the same name and surrounding the shores of Garda Lake, Valpolicella, and Soave. Other noteworthy wines produced here are the white Bianco di Custoza, the excellent sparkling Prosecco, the Breganze, and the Amarone, a rich and powerful red from the Verona province.

For more information:

* http://winecountry.it/regions/veneto/
* http://www.intowine.com/regions/italy/venetoyourreaders

by Amelia Simonson

Over 300 Haitian children were able to have a happy Christmas with their adoptive French parents. Over a year ago, French families looked into adopting Haitian orphans; however, the process was delayed until this past week. In total, 318 children were brought to France in the last week. Many of these families had to wait for a year to bring their children home because the devastating earthquake caused some of the paperwork to be lost.

Despite this delay and winter weather that delayed flights all over Europe, 113 children arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris on a government-charted plane on Wednesday, December 22. Another plane carrying 84 children and medical personnel arrived on December 24. These children were examined by doctors upon their arrival to help protect themselves and French citizens from the cholera epidemic that has killed over 2,500 people in Haiti since October. The ministry of foreign relations permitted the parents to fly from France to Haiti in order to fly back with their adopted children. Although not all of the children have arrived yet, the agreement for their arrival was negotiated in mid-December between France and Haiti in order to speed up the procedure. In total, over 700 Haitian children have been adopted by French parents in the last year. The families and the children involved were given a wonderful holiday gift.

For more information:

* France 24 – French families arrive in Paris with adopted Haitians
* France 24 – Adopted Haitian children fly into Paris in time for Christmas
* Le Monde – Arrivée à Roissy d’un deuxième groupe d’enfants haïtiens

* Le Monde – Haïti: le Quai d’Orsay va faire venir en France 300 enfants en cours d’adoption:
* Le Monde – Paris affrétera deux avions pour rapatrier des enfants haïtiens adoptés-
* Le Monde – Les enfants haïtiens adoptés sont arrivés à Paris

Nancy Scarselletta
The Language Learning Institute, LLC