On March 27th, Grier Spanish teacher, Ms. Stricek, took her AP Spanish and Spanish IV students to Juniata College for Spanish Immersion Day. This is an important event that allows students to learn new things about the Spanish language and the culture through hands-on experiences. “[Spanish Immersion Day] is an opportunity run by Juniata College and their Language in Motion program where various Spanish programs in the surrounding counties are invited to attend a day of fun activities, cultural activities, song, dance,” said Ms. Stricek, “and [it is] just a day to immerse yourself in the Spanish language.”
Various activities, ranging from presentations to cultural entertainments were arranged throughout the trip. Grier students exercised and expanded their Spanish knowledge through specific college-level activities. “There were a lot of different presentations where Juniata students who are studying Spanish got to present about a project that they’ve recently been working on,” said Ms. Stricek. “For example, one of them was a presentation on tango, the form of dance from Argentina, and Miguel de Cervantes, a famous writer. It’s a nice time for high school students to get acquainted with some of the work that actual college students are doing currently, as they study Spanish.”
Not only did the Grier students learn about work done by college students taking Spanish, they also taught mini classes to their peers. “We had a section where we got to teach, almost like teaching a kid’s lesson in Spanish,” recalled Carie Hoag, ‘26, who has been taking Spanish since 6th grade and is currently taking AP Spanish. Grier students demonstrated their language skills through this teaching activity. “They brought a lot of energy and really showed off their language skills,” said Ms. Stricek. “I’m really proud of how they did in order to present to their peers during this day.”
The most popular section among the students was the cultural activities. “We had a dance section, that was the most popular part,” said Hoag. “Everyone loved the dancing, and we had a ‘Name that Tune’ with Spanish music.” The dance section gave students an opportunity to immerse themselves directly in Hispanic culture. “We learned bachata and salsa, and it was very fun to learn them and do them with our partners that came with us,” answered Hoag when asked about her favorite part of the trip.
The “Name that Tune” section was also loved by the students. “My favorite part is the ‘Name that Tune’ section because not only did I have a lot of fun in this activity, I also got to learn a lot of good songs that I didn’t know before,” said Cherry Li, ‘27, who is also taking AP Spanish. “Almost immediately after the Spanish Immersion Day, I searched those songs online and listened to them. I think that is another good way to improve my Spanish,” Li reflected.
An opportunity to immerse oneself in a different language is a valuable opportunity for students, and Grier students benefited greatly from this trip. “It was nice to be able to talk to students from other schools while we were there and gain experience with speaking Spanish the whole day,” said Hoag.
The off-campus feature of this opportunity also enhanced the uniqueness of participating in such an event. When asked about the biggest difference between learning Spanish in school and participating such off-campus events, Ms. Stricek said, “I think one of the biggest differences is that during the school day, you only have 41 minutes to practice your language, but during this event you have all day to be immersed in Spanish, to hear your peers speaking it, and to have the opportunity yourself to practice your speaking abilities.”
Ms. Stricek took many factors into consideration before taking her students to attend the event. “Speaking with peers from surrounding high schools and trying to stay in the target language for as long as possible can definitely be daunting,” said Ms. Stricek. “But, I really want my students to come away having enjoyed the day and the exposure to all of these different cultural aspects that come with learning Spanish.”
Furthermore, even students that have gone to the event before gain new skills each time. “I went last year, also, and I had a very fun time even though it was my second time going,” recalled Hoag. “I’d recommend going [once] and even going for a second or a third time.”
Spanish Immersion Day was a lovely opportunity for Grier’s higher level Spanish students. The opportunity to meet new students, delve deeper into the language and culture, and practice their own skills provided students the chance to excel in language learning.
