Language Lifestyles

Language Lifelstylist exists to make language learning a public good. We believe that everyone has the aptitude for learning another language and the reason so many “fail” to learn a language is simply because our daily environment is not conducive to language acquisition. 

Our mission is to remove the barriers to language immersion abroad by creating the opportunity for immersion in local communities across Colorado.  When we bring together native speakers-of-English with native speakers-of-other-languages, and tailor culturally rich and meaningful language learning experiences that are grounded in shared lifestyle interests—we create sustainable learning environments in our local communities that are inspiring and motivating to language learners and that celebrate the linguistic diversity of community members  

Researchers in the field of Second Language Acquisition have found that being able to use a language in a culturally rich and meaningful environment is an essential factor for developing fluency. Learning another language without ample opportunities to use the language in a culturally rich and meaningful environment denies learners of an important developmental process that includes negotiating for meaning—a term used to describe when we, as learners, encounter the limit of our ability to understand or say what we want to say and then face the problem by leveraging the environmental context and using communication strategies to stay in the target language.  When we practice negotiating for meaning we exercise spontaneous, creative use of the language and get the feedback we need to refine our grammar, amplify our vocabulary, and ultimately improve our ability to communicate effectively. 

Our community based, language immersion events bring native speakers-of-other-languages together with native speakers-of-English in culturally rich and meaningful environments that are contextualized in lifestyle interests such as:

• spectator sports

• arts and culture

• outdoor recreation

• food and beverage

• and more!

Our events are 100% local, which means that everyone benefits from this linguistic and cultural integration. Our language immersion events inherently create spaces of belonging and cultural celebration for diverse members of our community; who experience honor and respect as ambassadors of language and culture at our events. Additionally, Language Lifestylist plans to partner with a variety of local businesses and cultural institutions to ensure our events not only capture the vast array of lifestyle interests found within our communities, but also to ensure that our events are accessible via a variety of modes of transportation, including walking, biking, public transit, and personal vehicles.  

While each event is scientifically structured by linguists to enhance language acquisition for language learners, the structure naturally invites cross-cultural curiosity and promotes community building through supported and engaging conversations where participants exchange ideas, information, and opinions on a variety of topics—all in the target language.