Foreign Language Day Brings New Cultures to High School Students at EOU
By Garrett Christensen on Monday, March 13th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – (Release from Eastern Oregon University) Foreign Language Activity Day, held at Eastern Oregon University (EOU), brought nearly 100 high school students together from Crook County, Malheur County, and Union County to share their passion for the Spanish language and to learn about how the study of language can open up the world to them. The program was organized by the EOU Spanish Faculty with the hope that it will become an annual event.
Students participated in sessions in which they heard first-hand testimonies regarding study, travel and work abroad, and about serving in the Peace Corps from former volunteers. They also played clapping games from Spain, learned to analyze telenovelas (Latin American soap operas) and took part in a Latin dance class. The day culminated with a concert replete with Latin rhythms by the EOU Chamber Choir and EOU´s 45th Parallel jazz band, followed by a campus tour and a chance to try out the new climbing wall.
“It’s super important to bring kids onto the campus, and expose them to everything the university has to offer,” according to Cassandra Sanchez, Campus Visit Coordinator/Admissions Counselor. “I’m passionate about bringing first-generation potential students onto campus to see what doors it opens.”
The one common denominator for all the students that attended the workshops was the Spanish language. All students are currently taking Spanish in high school either as Second Language Learners or as Heritage Language Learners who wish to learn more about the language spoken at home.
Through EOU’s Early College Initiatives’ dual credit courses, students are able to earn college credit while still in high school. All dual credit courses available to students count towards degrees at EOU. Students taking Spanish in high schools that participate in EOU´s Professional Learning Community led by Dr. Jill Gibian, Professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies, have the opportunity to earn college credit by taking an exam which tests for both oral and written proficiency equivalent to college level courses.
Organizers hope to broaden the parameters of the program in future years in order to expose students to other languages and cultures.
