Our Philosophy
The educational philosophy of The Language Learning Cooperative is based on problem solving, critical thinking, inquiry, and direct experience. We believe that education should be accessible to all who want it, and that teachers and students should work collaboratively, not hierarchically, by removing the traditional power dynamic that exists in many forms in the current education system in the United States.
Problem solving, critical thinking, inquiry, and direct experience are some of the main tenets of experiential education, which developed in the United States in the 1930s. It is a method of education that places emphasis on direct student interaction with the subject matter. Students retain more information and have more meaningful learning experiences when they learn this way. Instead of taking a test, which we understand is sometimes necessary to prove competency in a certain skill, students may complete a project or use the skill in a “real world” situation. In language classes, this could take the form of writing, performing, taking an immersion course, or any other kind of project, in order to demonstrate mastery of the language.
