The Chino Basque Club hosted its first summer children's basque class sessions.  The program was organized by both Begona & Candida Echeverria and taught by Amaia Laduche from Azkain, Lapurdi.  The classes lasted 3 weeks, Monday-Friday everyday at the Euskal Etxea or Basque clubhouse in Chino. There were 3 classes a day that lasted 2 hours each, and the age groups for the classes were 4-6 year olds, 7-10 year olds, and 11 & up.  There was a total of 20 children sign up, not bad for the first year.

Classes spanned two weeks and they were held at the clubhouse of the Chino Basque Club. Here the instructor Amaia Laduche, from the Basque Country, is working with kids ages 7-10. The Chino Basque Club is one of the NABO clubs that is offering regular Euskara learning classes.  To find out more about possible offerings in your area click on Basque club classes.

 

The instructor Amaia Laduche, from Azkain, Lapurdi, teaches Euskara in a local school there going on 16 years.  She speaks very little English, so the children were forced into communicating the best they could in Basque. She used music, books, games & images to help the children learn vocabulary, colors, the days of the week, months, etc.  She said that this was a new experience for her coming so far away to teach Basque, and also stated that the children came a long way since the first day of class. 

 

The Chino Euskara summer program was organized  by the sisters Candida & Begona Echeverria

The work of the program was balanced with fun for the kids; outings included an excursion to the San Diego Wildlife Animal Park, Skirball in Beverly Hills for an exhibit, a pool party and such.  At all excursions the children were encouraged to speak as much Basque as possible.  The Wildlife Animal Park was especially fun, as the kids learned how to say many animals in Basque. 

Click on Boise Basque Language Camp for a related story
 

Click on Learning Euskara links for learning opportunities