Teri Kruschke’s Spanish classes have been working hard. Every year, students in Spanish 5 and 6 have participated in a pen pal exchange with other Spanish students from Allen Field Elementary. The idea was to give students real-world practice with the language and introduce them to different cultures.
Last month, they had the opportunity to meet their pen pals, and the students were excited to write and make new connections.
“I really enjoy writing and talking with my pen pals. They are really nice and give me an opportunity to learn more about Spanish with others,” junior David Acamovic said.
The relationships between the students and their Spanish pen pals grew throughout the year. They shared stories about their families, hobbies, and favorite foods. Sharing these experiences helped the Spanish students improve their vocabulary and give them an opportunity to become more comfortable with the language.
“Learning more about my pen pal helped me understand a little more about the Spanish language and improved my understanding,” junior Peter Geittmann said.
Last month, the students visited GHS. The class was thrilled, especially those who had been connecting with their pen pals for a while. The experience made the language lessons come alive, turning classroom vocabulary into meaningful conversations.
“Meeting them was fun because I have been working with them for so long, and then I finally got to meet them,” junior Leo Gamboa said, “They were really sweet and I learned a lot from them, I will never forget this experience and thank my pen pal for helping me understand more.”
“When I got to meet them, we exchanged gifts, and my pen pal got me a cool pen,” Acamovic said.
Nearing the end of the year, the pen pal project had become one of the most memorable parts of the Spanish class. The experience left a lasting connection and helped many students’ writing skills. The program is something that GHS students will never forget.
