euskalkultura.eus

After a decline last year, the Basque student numbers in NABO clubs has regained momentum and has grown once again this semester, even without definite numbers from Elko and New York.  A Basque teacher is urgently needed in Seattle, WA.  It seems that the Euskara Munduan Program (Basque in the World) is playing an important role in training future teachers, Itxaso Cayero, Co-Coordinator of Euskera for NABO, told EuskalKultura.com. 

Boise, ID.  Euskara Munduan is a program developed by HABE, the institute for teaching Euskera and Basque literacy to adults, as part of the Basque Government, by which, after four years of studying online and face-to-face, Basque students become Basque teachers in their respective communities.

Virginia Aranburu took this step last year and this year she will return as the children’s Basque teacher in San Francisco.  In the same way, Megan Vondemkamp, from Boise, ID, and Ellen Contard, from Denver, CO, will become the main children’s instructor in their respective communities.  These three having completed the Euskara Munduan Program.

In all, NABO has confirmed 14 instructors this semester: Aitor Inarra and Virginia Aranburu (San Francisco, CA); Ibon Izurieta and Ellen Contard (Denver, CO); Gloria Lejardi (Homedale, ID); Goisalde Jausoro (Mountain Home, ID); Itxaso Cayero, Oihana Andion, Megan Vondemkamp and Mara Davis (Boise, ID); Amets Sánchez, Jenofa and Goizalde (Montreal, Canada); and Gorka Otxoa (Boston, Massachusetts). Both NABO Euskera coordinators, Aitor Inarra and Cayero herself, are hoping to confirm numbers from Anita Franzoia in Elko, NV and Itziar Kobayashi in New York shortly.

Basque teacher needed in Seattle

One of the immediate challenges for NABO is “to find someone to teach in Seattle, Washington,” Cayero said.  A Basque teacher is urgently needed there. “They have a Basque club and there is a group of people who wants to learn Basque, but they don’t have a teacher.  The solution may be for one of them to start the Euskara Munduan and become a teacher.” This the NABO Euskara website.

Cayero also pointed out that the secret to having a solid, successful class lies in “making the students participate.”  “You have to make them feel a part of everything, including the organization of the events that take place throughout the year.”