Boiseko Ikastola is a language immersion preschool located in Boise, Idaho, United States. It is one of the few schools outside the Basque country to teach the Basque language.
| Boiseko Ikastola | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
1955 Broadway Avenue Boise , Idaho 83706 | |
| Information | |
| Established | 1998 |
| Language | Basque |
| Website | https://www.boisekoikastola.org/ |
Boiseko Ikastola has a curriculum that focuses on the acquisition of the Basque language, and on the development of reading, writing, and mathematics. The classes are designed for Basque and American children, all the subjects are taught in Basque language, which facilitates the learning of young students. Research has shown that exposing children to a second language at an early age gives them an advantage later in life in areas such as math, language and cultural awareness. With a variety of excursions, dance classes and activities, the school offers cultural learning beyond the classroom.[1][2]
The school was originally established in 1998 by a group of families and was held at the St. Paul's Catholic Student Center at Boise State University. In 2015, it moved to a brick house on Broadway Avenue purchased by the Basque Museum and Cultural Center. It has also received grants from the Basque government.[3][4][5] It is a Basque language immersion school, aiming to preserve the language schools of preschoolers, and serving the children of both immigrants form the Basque country and of American-born children of whatever ancestry.[6][7]
The school is one of several institutions and cultural programs in Boise that preserve and celebrate the culture of the area's large community of Basque immigrants and their descendants.[8][7][9]
References
edit- ^ Boiseko Ikastola (ed.). "Basque School of Boise". Retrieved July 9, 2018.
- ^ The basque museum and cultural center (ed.). "Boiseko Ikastola Preschool". Retrieved July 9, 2018.
- ^ Berry, Harrison (15 July 2015). "Boise Basque Preschool—America's Only—to Reopen Monday, July 20". Boise Weekly. Archived from the original on 4 December 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
- ^ "Boise's Basque Preschool thrives and expands into a new home". idahostatesman.com. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
- ^ Mortensen, Kathleen (12 November 1998). "Basque preschool will teach kids culture Students will learn language of their European ancestors". Idaho Statesman. ProQuest 257442133.
- ^ Morgan, Tara (24 February 2010). "A Basque Tale". Boise Weekly. ProQuest 367516377.
- ^ a b Jones, Jay (22 May 2011). "IDAHO; Basking in its Basque heritage; Boise celebrates the ethnic culture with a museum, restaurants, games of pelota and even dancing". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 867934455.
- ^ Morgan, Tara (21 July 2010). "Basque for Beginners". Boise Weekly. ProQuest 734866718.
- ^ Schuessler, Ryan (22 March 2015). "'Ni Boisekoa naiz': Keeping Basque alive in Idaho". Al Jazeera America. Retrieved 22 July 2018.