Languages.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal explored how languages define the way we think, perceive, communicate and collaborate:

• Languages shape how we view space and time: for example, if we arrange time from east to west or north to south, or if we view the future as moving forward or moving backward.
• Languages also shape how we understand causality: our native tongue may affect eyewitness accounts of who was responsible for accidental vs. international events - and even our interpretation of whether Justin Timberlake was responsible for Janet Jackson's 'wardrobe malfunction' - or if the wardrobe broke on its own.

So, to take this one step further: True cultural competence could probably only be achieved by acquiring a particular language. Thus, offering language lessons may yet be another way for CISV to reach its goals. A four-week CISV compact course in Portuguese in San Jose dos Campos, anyone?

(via Sarah/USA)