Audrey Piehl
Reporter
On Thursday, December 2, Spanish IV and V students ventured to Brookside Elementary School in South Norwalk.
The journey included several weeks of preparation, beginning with groups of four to six students. Their mission: assemble various activities designed around a book translated in both Spanish and English, and read it to students spanning from ages Kindergarten to fifth grade.
“We are teaching to 5th graders, and reading The Giving Tree,” senior Lexi Bodick said. “But almost every book is juvenile. We picked The Giving Tree because it has an underlying meaning they can interpret.”
Meanwhile, junior Ryan Van Vleet’s group aimed for a younger audience. “We are doing Arthur, because we’re reading to 2nd graders,” Ryan said.
Fellow group member sophomore Ember Parker added a second and more sentimental motive for the choice. “We read it as kids, and remember it in a positive light.”
Once a book was chosen, the work on the activities began. “I like making and inventing the activities, and applying the vocabulary into fun games and in the classroom,” Lexi said.
While it was a substantial undertaking, students like Lexi enjoyed the fresh environment. “It’s really fun and hands on. It’s about applying everything we’ve learned through all these years of Spanish.”
A major aspect of the trip itself was the absence of NCHS teachers in the classroom while students taught. “It’s the first time Profe Arbues has totally trusted us to work on our own, which is nice,” Ryan said.
With 40-50 percent of the student population bilingual at Brookside, the pressure was on for students to succeed without teacher comfort. “I’m a little nervous for being judged, because my Spanish is lacking compared to theirs,” Ember said.
While thinking on the spot may be difficult, sophomore Kerinne O’Connor believed her group would receive a warm welcome. “They’re children, and children are very easy-going,” she said. “It’ll feel good to do something for other people before the holidays.”
Lexi shared this optimistic attitude. “It’s our only experience to talk with those who are fluent. Little kids are so worry-free and fun.”
“It’s an experience in diversity, and makes the students appreciate Spanish in a different environment and with a sympathetic audience,” Spanish teacher Dr. Diane Cornwell said, who was leading organizer of the trip.
She stressed that, while the trip is intended to be educational, it also forms special bonds between two practically different worlds. “Their principal David Hay says they’ve launched a new initiative for going to college, and we’re role models. [The students] obviously care for each other,” she said.
After the big day came around last Thursday, senior Austin Sandvik and fellow group member of Lexi shared his positive review of the experience, “I think it went well and the kids seemed interested,” he said. “During the games they really got into it, and started calling out answers.”
Austin said his class of fifth graders included at least half bilingual students, who speak Spanish at home with their families. “My favorite part were the games and activities, because it gave us the chance to sit down and teach the kids the vocabulary,” he said. “We could see the bilingual students helping the others understand.”
As the day continued, many students expressed interest in their new teacher. “They were interested in asking about our favorite football teams, and what sports we play,” he said.
While the Brookside trip was designed to be academics, students said nothing could dilute the good times that occurred between our students and theirs. “The best part is going to be playing Spanish telephone with the kids,” Ryan said.
Photos contributed by Kerinne O’Connor
