High school immersion program helps develop Spanish skills
By NINA BARRINGER
Article published on Thursday, March 1, 2007  |
PINELLAS COUNTY – During the first hours of summer camp, students take an oath to speak only in Spanish. English television and movies are off limits during the five-day experience.
The goal of this immersion program, in existence for 28 consecutive years, is to prepare Pinellas County high school students for real-life situations – en Espanol.
“The primary objective is to develop the participants’ cultural understanding and language skills by placing (them) in an exclusive target-language speaking environment,” said Jan Kucerik, district supervisor of world languages.
Although apprehensive initially in the all-Spanish environment, students start to loosen up following group activities.
“By the first evening, most start to feel very comfortable,” Kucerik said. “By the second day, most are very comfortable. By the end of the week, they don’t want to leave.”
The 2007 Spanish Summer Immersion Program will be held at Eckerd College June 18 to 22. To qualify, students must have completed at least two years of Spanish and must be entering grades nine through 12 in the 2007-08 school year.
Kucerik said she typically receives between 25 and 40 applicants. “We try to accept all who apply before the deadline, as long as they meet the requirements,” she said.
Instructors, she said, are certified Spanish teachers from local middle schools and high schools who have experience working with secondary students.
“At least one member of the teaching team, if not all, has prior experience working with students in a camp setting,” Kucerik said.
High school students enrolled in International Baccalaureate programs generally are encouraged to attend the summer immersion camp.
“In addition, middle school teachers who know that they have students entering the IB program encourage those students to attend,” Kucerik said.
Teachers, she added, encourage students who are mature enough to be away from home, who function well with other students, and who have a keen interest in speaking the language.
In general, Kucerik said, there is a wide range of ability and language experience among participants. During language instruction sessions, students are organized according to their abilities and experiences.
“During all other activities, the groups include a mixture of age, experience and ability so that students learn from each other,” Kucerik said.
The approach has resulted in a program completion rate of nearly 100 percent.
“It helps that we generally have a few ‘repeaters’ each year,” Kucerik said. “These students who have participated in the program in previous years become leaders and work to help other students feel comfortable.”
To combat anxiety or fears, teachers conduct relationship-building and teambuilding activities the first day. Students are asked to work with their roommates to create a logo or cheer in Spanish that defines their group, Kucerik cited as one example.
Students who use Spanish exclusively during the 10 hours of daily instruction and activities are rewarded.
“There are also incentives for those that present proof that they use Spanish in the room and cafeteria and during break times,” Kucerik said.
The culminating experience – or “final exam” – is a presentation for parents, during which each student is required to share their program experiences, entirely in Spanish.
Typically, Kucerik said, these presentations take the form of skits, commercials and slide shows.
According to past instructors, students who have participated in the program demonstrate greater confidence and risk-taking ability in the language.
Each year, the program is organized around a different theme, usually targeting one to three Spanish-speaking countries. This year’s theme is “La Serie del Caribe” or baseball, and will feature the music, art, literature and people of The Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
“Students will learn the terminology associated with baseball and will actually play a baseball game each afternoon. They will try to earn points on and off the baseball field each day,” Kucerik said. “On the field, they will actually earn points for runs scored; off the field, they will earn points for such accomplishments as learning a song or dance in Spanish.”
Students also interact with native speakers one evening during the week.
“The students practice their presentations with these guests and interview them,” Kucerik said. “They also thank them for coming by serving them a snack or meal representative of the cultures they are studying.”
Tuition scholarships are provided each year by the World Languages Teacher Association of Pinellas County. Students interested in earning a scholarship that covers half of the program’s cost must submit a separate application.
For program information and to apply, contact Kucerik at 588-6066.
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Article published on Thursday, March 1, 2007
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