LanguageLine, a non-profit, aims to connect German-speaking senior citizens with young, enthusiastic German language learners of high school age.
Andrew Kelmanson, a language enthusiast and junior in high school had the idea for LanguageLine in 8th grade after he started teaching himself languages like German and Russian in 7th grade.
He realized that there was a two-sided need that could be fulfilled between students and senior citizens. Language learners like himself could benefit from conversing with native speakers, and senior citizens who spoke German could connect with the younger generation. All together this intergenerational exchange helps create an opportunity for both sides to form beautiful friendships along the way.
The project started out with small meetings in Louisville, Kentucky, where Andrew organized for German senior citizens and high school students to come together and meet over coffee and discuss various topics in 2018. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, local meetings weren’t possible anymore, so Andrew created an online meeting solution via his website LanguageLine, which is now connecting senior citizens with language learners in a virtual setting worldwide. Languages, that LanguageLine serves at the moment, are German and Russian.
If you are a student or senior citizen and you are interested in joining LanguageLine to start a conversation, either to improve your language skills or to share your knowledge and life experience in your native language, you can find more information here.
Images ©AndrewKelmanson