‘Hola’……………….From Spain with Love

During the academic year 2017-2018, two of our Primary School teachers visited the San Patricio International School in Toledo, Spain. In response, this year two teachers from San Patricio made a trip to our school, to interact with our students. During their month-long stay in India, they became familiar faces, as we saw them walking down the corridors or bumped into them as they took the flight of stairs, up and down the school premises.

 

 

The two visiting teachers, Feliz Rodriguez, who teaches primary classes and Josue Canao, who teaches Spanish and History at the IB level, expressed their desire to visit our primary classes and interact with the children. A timetable was prepared to the effect and they were welcomed warmly to every class. The young children were happy to have the exchange teachers in their classrooms and were enthusiastic participants in all the activities.

 

 

Feliz taught the children a few Spanish words and their meanings, and in response they learnt a few pleasantries in Hindi. In Spanish the children learnt words like Hola – hello; Buenos días – good morning; ¿Cómo está/estás? – how are you?Yo muy bien – I am very well; Gusto en saludarle/conocerle – happy to meet you; Ya me voy – I am leaving; Adiós – bye.

 

 

This was followed by both sides trying to conduct a conversation using this newly acquired skill. The activity helped to enhance our children's language abilities and provided intercultural learning opportunities to them. Our children probed and found out about where they lived, how their school set-up was, what extra-curricular activities their children performed, and of course about FOOTBALL!

 

Music being a universal language that can bridge communication barriers and support developing literacy and fluency in a new language, together we sang Spanish and Indian songs, and danced to the melody and the rhythm.

 

 

Our primary students were open and receptive while learning about other people and cultures and the exchange awakened the children’s interest and understanding of people and culture of places far away. Our children are definitely going to remember this ‘bilingual’ activity for a long time and will be keen to learn more foreign languages in the future. Adiós Amigos!