Heritage Language Programs - Swedish
Trollbacken Swedish Camp
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Address: 4114 Southwest 48th Place, Portland, OR 07221
Telephone: (503) 284-2415
Web address: http://www.trollbacken.org
Contact person
Name: Tina Kreft-Tenglbad
Title: Director
Email: director@trollbacken.org; kreftusa4@usa.com
Telephone: (503) 296-4884
Languages/dialects taught: Swedish
Grades taught: Students involved in the program are ages 7-13.
Program Description
Purposes and goals of the program: Trollbacken Summer Camp aims to provide children of the Pacific Northwest with a one-week adventure learning the Swedish language and delving into aspects of Swedish culture with a variety of activities.
Type of program: 1-week summer camp
Program origin: The program started when several mothers began gathering together with their children. Eventually it outgrew the first campus and has now reached an average of 55-70 students.
Parents
Parents’ expectations for the program: Parents have varying expectations for the language instruction, primarily related to the language variety that is taught.
Students
Students: 55-70 Students
How the program identifies heritage speakers: The program allows for the students to self-identify or family-identify as heritage speakers. Students' levels range from having no experience in Swedish to being bilingual.
Possible reasons for student withdrawal: There is usually no withdrawal. Every student completes the program, and about 80% of the students return the following year.
Students’ expectations of the program: Students expect to learn about Swedish language and culture while having fun and making new friends.
Instructors
Number of instructors in the program: 7 instructors and 17 counselors
Languages in which instructors are proficient: Swedish
Proficiency level: Native speakers
Credentials: A majority of the instructors have teaching degrees.
Professional development opportunities instructors have: Three of the instructors are full-time teachers and receive development opportunities through their other jobs.
Instruction
Total contact hours per week: 12.5 hours for one week
Student grouping: Students are divided by age (7-9 and 10-13) and then placed into four groups determined by proficiency level.
Language skills
Skills developed by the program: Language skills
Culture
Aspects of culture taught: Music, singing, arts and crafts, folk dancing, campfire story telling, Swedish food, swimming, hiking, soccer, volleyball
Kind of student identity program fosters: A Swedish-American identity is fostered, emphasizing the differences and similarities between the two cultures.
Methodologies
Methodologies and instructional strategies used in the program: Interactive instructional strategies are used, and students are involved in many fun activities during the program.
Materials
Technology used for instruction: Technology is not used during the camp.
Assessment
Assessments used to evaluate students’ progress: Students are assessed the entire time, but there are no official tests.
What the program has in place
Financial support the program receives: 75% of the support received is in the form of tuition.
Other support the program receives: The other 25% of financial support is received from donations from Swedish lodges.
Assistance or funding the program would like to receive: The program needs continual funding instead of one-time funding for specific projects.
How students graduate and/or how they receive credit: Students receive recognition for their service and have the extra-curricular experience, but there is no credit for the language courses.
Program research or evaluation: The program is semi-formally evaluated.
Special challenges
Challenges the program has experienced: The biggest challenge is sufficient and dependable sources of funding.
