For high school students, traveling internationally may seem daunting, scary and intimidating- especially if they don’t feel completely fluent in their language skills.
This is true for many foreign language students, but according to Sra. Garrett, students “don’t have to speak the language perfectly in order to communicate.”
In fact, traveling internationally is common at Dallastown, and every year, at least one foreign language trip gives many students the opportunity to travel.
Most of the current Spanish teachers have traveled abroad at least once, and some, such as Sra. Pomraning and Sra. Bixler went on a foreign language trip as Dallastown students themselves.
According to Sra. Herman, teachers can “lay the foundation for the student’s love of language- much like Sra. Bixler and Sra. Garrett did for me.”
This year, the Spanish students get their turn, and 88 students and chaperones are spending nine days in Spain.
These students get to visit all of the major cities, landmarks, and iconic places in Spain. In addition to all of the amazing places students will get to visit, the food in Spain is also an exciting thing for students to look forward to.
Junior Kendall Guyer is “most excited to try the different foods” in Spain, which include churros, paella, tapas, empanadas, patatas bravas, and many more delicious dishes.
On June 10, students will travel to Madrid, where they will spend four days exploring the city and the surrounding areas. They will first explore Puerta del Sol, a public square in Madrid, which is known as the heart of the city.
They will then visit Plaza Mayor to learn about the city’s history, as well as Palacio Real, the Royal Palace of Madrid. On the fourth day, students will have the option to either explore more of Madrid or visit Toledo and participate in a zip-line experience.
Students will then spend two days in Granada and take a guided tour of the city. They will compete in a “City Challenge” scavenger hunt, and also visit the Alhambra, which is a palace fortress complex in Granada.
Next, the Dallastown travelers will visit Seville, where sophomore Lexa Stiles is the most excited to visit. “It has stunning architecture, and out of all the cities, it looks like the place I would enjoy the most,” Stiles says.
In Seville, students will walk through the Barrio de Santa Cruz, the first Jewish neighborhood in Spain, known for its historic buildings. They will also visit the Seville Cathedral and Maria Louisa Park to see the mosaics and the fountains of Plaza de España.
On the last day of the trip, students will spend one day in Costa del Sol, a beach town located on the southern coast of Spain. Students can either walk around the beach town or visit the Rock of Gibraltar, which allows you to see part of Africa from a distance across the Mediterranean Sea when climbed to the top.
After 10 days in Spain, students will gain the confidence to travel internationally more, since they will have the experience of navigating an airport, using public transportation, and communicating with natives.
Spanish teacher Sra. Pomraning notes that visiting a foreign country also “allows the students to hear the language in context- it comes alive for them and gives it relevancy that they cannot get in a classroom atmosphere.”
Stepping out of your comfort zone may be intimidating, but according to those who have traveled on world language trips, the reward of gaining hundreds of amazing new memories and experiences is far worth it.
.
