The Young Leader

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Future Benefits of Learning Spanish in High School


Foreign Language Requirements

Many high schools and some colleges and universities require a minimum number of foreign language credits. For some students, it seems like a terrible imposition — “I don’t plan on living anywhere else but here!” Others truly struggle to learn a new language. Individuals vary tremendously in their abilities to learn languages, and it may seem unfair that one individual just seems to learn it naturally while another labors to learn his latest list of vocabulary words. But there’s a host of benefits to learning Spanish in high school, not the least of which is the frequency with which you’ll probably run across the opportunity to practice it without leaving your state. Why? After English, Spanish is the most widely spoken language in the United States. Its slang has become mainstream, as have many Latino musicians. Comedians alternate between English and Spanish during their stand-up acts, and network TV audiences hear Spanish phrases so often now that it fails to register to them.

The Benefits of Speaking Spanish and Learning the Language in High School

If you didn’t learn Spanish as a young child, then high school can be the next best thing. After all, teens are the age group most closely in tune with popular culture, and American popular culture is full of Spanish words, phrases and slang. Other real benefits include:

Studying Spanish can improve your English vocabulary and help you on the English portion of your SAT test. How? Spanish is a Latin language, and many of the common words of the language are still very closely connected to their Latin roots. English also has many words of Latin derivation, so learning everyday Spanish can actually help you figure out the meaning of an entirely unknown English word.

  • Learning a new language changes the anatomy of the brain and carves new neural pathways throughout it. These changes have been linked to a decreased chance of developing memory problems such as age-related dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. The new neural pathways also make it easier for you to learn any new information, and a second language helps you develop critical thinking skills as you learn to puzzle out the meaning of new words.
  • Compared to other languages — Asian languages, German and English — learning to pronounce and read Spanish is relatively easy. The easier you find the language, the more encouraged you’ll be to study.
  • Being fluent in both Spanish and English increases your value as an employee in any field you might pursue. If you become fluent enough, your career might just become one of being a translator between doctors and patients, judges and witnesses or customers and store managers, for example.
  •  In addition to making you more marketable, knowing how to speak Spanish can make you more popular. You’ll be able to meet new people just by helping to translate or explain for someone.
  •  Finally, in general, most Spanish speakers are remarkably friendly to individuals new to their language so you can usually count on help whenever words fail you.

Learning a foreign language like Spanish is more than just a good way to earn high school language credits–it’s also a great way to prepare for your future.

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Volunteer Vacations: Service Trips for Families

Service Trips for the Whole Family

Family service trips have become increasingly popular over the past decade. In addition to those coordinated by an organized religious group, various nonprofit NGO groups have also begun to accept parents with children depending upon the organization’s needs, the length of time the family can provide volunteer services and the parental skills or qualifications desired by the NGO. Before packing up the kids and taking the dog to the kennel, investigate fully the organization to which you’re planning on entrusting your safety and the safety of your family. Some service trips are service trips and any time spent away from work in recreational activities is the responsibility of the parents to organize and provide. Find a trip that will suit the needs of your family, taking into account their ages and the degree of work expected of participants.

Benefits of Volunteering As a Family

The benefits of family volunteering are extremely positive when taken as a whole. Depending upon the ages of a family’s children, it can provide opportunities for bonding and communication uninterrupted by the usual distractions of western life. The shock or surprise of different cultural norms and expectations can be mitigated somewhat by preparing children for the unexpected in conversations or explanations tailored to their ages. An additional benefit is that parents are available to discuss the different culture and how our ideas of etiquette or other issues are so culturally defined. Finally, nothing can replace the collective memory that a service vacation can provide to a family and all its members.

Cultural Incentives to Family Travel

Children have as much to learn about new cultures as their mothers and fathers. Parents, observing their children being gently corrected in a new culture have been themselves afforded a face-saving means of learning a courtesy themselves. Finally, families with children are seen as less threatening that two adults and the social group may help facilitate faster friendships and social acceptance.

Future Opportunities for Child Alumnae of Service Journeys

Children who are alumnae of such vacation service journeys return home with a newfound appreciation of the standard of living we often take for granted. More importantly, they are more accepting of other cultural beliefs and customs. As they grow into teens, their ability to compare two cultures may provide them with a greater understanding of a political issue or a near perfect fluency in a foreign language. As is often the case in summer camps, perhaps they’ll return in their teens to help supervise the children of other families during their own service journeys.

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Volunteering in the Galapagos – The Eighth Wonder of the World: by Christina Rennison

It was a humid Sunday afternoon in April of 2010. I had just returned home after winning a three-day soccer tournament, and I was exhausted. I was lying in my bed watching Law and Order: Special Victims Unit when my mother swung my bedroom door open with a smile exploding from her face. I asked her why she was so happy, and her smile grew even wider. I stood up and walked closer to find out what was going on when she grabbed both of my arms and started jumping while screaming, “You’re going to the Galapagos Islands!”

Three months later I was saying goodbye to my friends and family as I departed for Quito, Ecuador. I boarded the plane, placed my ear buds in my ears, and let the music drown out all other noises around me as I closed my eyes. Four hours later I was surrounded by unfamiliar languages and faces. I slowly walked through the airport trying to read the “helpful” signs. After wandering around aimlessly, I found my destination: customs. I approached the desk where a short, stubby man was sitting typing hundreds of letters per minute. He said something to me in Spanish, and I just looked at him with a blank, clueless expression. After staring back at me for a few moments, he grabbed my passport from my hand and continued typing into the computer. After what seemed like an eternity, he handed me back my passport, said “Bienvenidos a Ecuador,” and pushed me aside. I grabbed my luggage and walked through a sliding glass door where I met up with Heather, my counselor, and the rest of the people that would be traveling with me for the next two weeks. We all introduced ourselves and took a van back to the hostel. By the time we arrived it was already midnight, so we were given our room assignments and stayed there for the rest of the night.

I woke up the next morning to my alarm beeping. Avery and Lili, my roommates, and I slowly got up to begin getting ready for the day. All fifteen of us were in the lobby of the hostel by six A.M. sharp. Tired and lifeless, we all boarded a bus to begin our journey to Galapagos Islands. The journey to the islands was much more difficult than most people would think. It involved a forty-five minute bus ride, a ten-minute boat ride, a three-hour plane ride, which would take us to Baltra Island, a ten-minute bus ride, and then to get to our final destination, Isabela Island, we needed to take a three-hour boat ride. The trip took most of the day, but at last we were on Isabela Island.

We were split up into two groups and went our separate ways to meet our host families. Eight of us arrived at the tiny pink house we would be calling home for the next six days, and smiles lit up on all of our faces. Our host mother, Olga, welcomed us with a warm smile. She did not speak English, however, so it was difficult conversing with her. We were assigned our new roommates and immediately sat down for dinner. Being the picky eater that I am, I had to force feed myself the mysterious meal. After dinner we met up with the other group and toured the island. Stray animals, dirt roads, small buildings, bicycles, greasy foods, and crude men surrounded me, and I could not have been happier. As we walked by the beach, cameras appeared in everyone’s hands as pictures were being snapped continuously. We were told that the next six days would be focused on community service and observing marine life through snorkeling. During our stay on Isabela Island, we worked at a place called Campo Duro. We helped care for and protect rescued tortoises. I learned all about tortoises and the wildlife in Galapagos. Not only did we participate in teen volunteer programs, but we also snorkeled with Orchid whales, White-tipped Reef sharks, marine turtles, fish, manta rays, and sea lions. Terrified of everything that lives in the ocean, I was very doubtful about snorkeling. Finally, I decided to be brave and put my head underwater. Once I did, I could not leave. Beautiful fish with red, yellow, orange, and blue swam all around me as curious about me as I was about them. Manta rays were zooming through the water flipping through the air on occasion. I had never seen such a beautiful environment. The next six days were like heaven on Earth. Sadly, our stay on Isabela had to come to an end. We packed up our suitcases, said goodbye to Olga, and made our way to our new destination, Santa Cruz.

Although leaving Isabela was depressing for the entire group, everyone was excited to experience life on a different island. The trip from Isabela to Santa Cruz consisted only of a three-hour boat ride; therefore, we had the entire day to explore. As we arrived to the island, we met our new host mom, America, and settled in to our new home. We visited Lonesome George, the only tortoise left of his kind, and then traveled around Santa Cruz. Even though Santa Cruz was beautiful, it could not even be compared to Isabela. The new island was much more modernized in the sense that it had paved roads, well-constructed buildings, and fancy restaurants. We snorkeled, cliff jumped, tried unusual foods, and enjoyed the beautiful beaches during our stay. Finally, the four days were up and we were on our way back to Quito, Ecuador.

Our final two days in Quito were depressing, yet we all became closer than we ever were. We went to more open-air markets, enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Quito, and visited the Equator. The last night everyone exchanged phone numbers, E-mail addresses, and Facebook names and went to sleep early. The next morning everyone went to the airport in organized groups. David, Noah, and I were at the airport at 6:30 A.M. We walked through customs and security together and said our goodbyes. I arrived at Miami Airport to find my mother jumping up and down in excitement to see me. Before I could get a word out, the questions began. “Were the people nice?” “How was the counselor?” “Were the islands beautiful?” “Which island was your favorite?” I told her I would show her pictures and answer all her questions soon enough, but first I needed a warm shower and a nice nap in my familiar bed. Although I missed my dogs, friends, and family, going to the Galapagos Islands changed my perspective on life forever. After visiting a third world country, I cherish everything in my life. I will always remember the memories of Galapagos and the people I shared them with, and no other place in the world could ever compare to it.

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Volunteering in The Galapagos Islands – A Change in Time by Miguel Mendez

Mud splatters with each step down the slippery path. I cling to the closest wooden posts, avoiding the barbed wire at my sides.  My heavy breathing does not allow me to hear the surroundings. The sign, LA ESPERANZA HACIENDA, grows larger as I approach on the winding path. At the end of an exhausting trek, I finally catch my breath.

My sigh of relief is only short-lived as I am fully aware of the daunting tasks that lie ahead. On the Galapagos Islands, the high school volunteer work tends to be lengthy and physical. Of course, I am not used to the hard labor, but I journeyed here to help the environment, so, I overcome my reluctance and power through the work. My group’s job is to construct a greenhouse from the native bamboo. Wielding a sharp machete, I head toward the bamboo trees, managing to topple a tree after multiple failed attempts. Though my hands ache, I am persistent.  Everything here is different. This is a job to help the native ecosystem and also an immersion into a new culture. I am exhausted, yet confident with my decision to travel out of my comfort zone, to work in primitive conditions.

Jose’s uplifting smile, the one he sustains through the toughest work, encourages me to persevere through the pain. The owner of La Esperanza, Jose reconditions the land constantly, hoping to one day create a turtle rehabilitation center. He named the ranch Esperanza, which means hope in Spanish, to express his feelings for the project. Knowing his goal will take years to achieve only drives him to accomplish more every day. I have worked hard, though never as hard as Jose does.

On a particularly sultry day, Jose leads us to the fruit farm he maintains. “Take a bite,” he tells me as he hands me a slice of cantaloupe. Cantaloupe has never been my favorite, but this bite is succulent perfection. I feel a profound joy as I devour the rest of the piece. A piece of fruit, something I consider trivial, has brought me an unusual satisfaction. I feel as though I had been lifted off the Earth and given a taste of divine food. I hug Jose and thank him for his generosity. He doesn’t understand my happiness, so I explain that back home I live a fast-paced lifestyle, not stopping to enjoy the sweetest moments of life.

As the final hour of my volunteer work wanes into the fading sunset, I feel sad. Even though the work is physically demanding, I enjoy it. Before I met Jose, I complained about the slow service in a restaurant, while he unremittingly labored, even for the smallest fruit. Now, I relish my time to relax and reflect. I emerge with an open mind, pausing to take in every moment life gives me

To learn more about how you can make a difference in The Galapagos, click on the link.

 

 

 

 

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Featured Essay: Scott Elias, GLA Alum, Guatemala – Children of the Maya

I am not satisfied with procrastination or empty promises. I am not driven by ephemeral inspiration or futile idealism. I do not believe in improving the world through impersonal charity or mere rhetoric, but I believe that we have a moral obligation to improve our world through means that are both meaningful and plausible. This obligation should not be the result of man’s attempt to seek praise, for the virtue of solidarity goes beyond recognition. It lies in an understanding that we are irrevocably linked to one another, that we are not alone in our endeavors, and that we have a solemn responsibility to set forth conditions encouraging dignity and respect, an environment nurturing the ideals of social justice. This vision cannot be realized if it does not imply a commitment to those who are vulnerable or marginalized, and it cannot be realized if we cloud our judgment with hubris by believing that it will somehow materialize on its own. These are the beliefs that brought me to Tecpan, Guatemala, via a high school study abroad program, and it is this mindset that allows me to know that I will one day return.

By visiting a female agricultural cooperative that grows cash crops to support their families, I learned how the Kak’chikél farmers cope with their hardships. I discovered that it is their solidarity that holds their traditions and values together in the face of unlikely odds; their will has never broken. It is their ethic, their commonality of interests and concerns that allows them to maintain their cultural identity despite the potent forces of globalization. It is their support for one another, their sense of harmony that reinforces their existence.

At Escuela Rural Pueblo Viejo, one of the few schools in Guatemala that teaches the Kak’chikél language in addition to Spanish, I helped paint a run-down basketball court, befriended Enrique and Freddie, and taught English phrases to eager children. I played soccer with enthusiastic boys in a schoolyard consisting of fragmented concrete, dirt, and a small patch of grass. Unlike schools in the US, there was no running water or electric lighting and few students had notebooks. After witnessing a society that lacks the luxury and opportunity that many Americans cherish, I am now compelled to act, not out of pity, but out of a sense of humanity. I now plan to return and deliver school supplies because I believe that education is the premise for progress, opportunity, and development and because I will never forget the jubilant smiles I witnessed, the authentic happiness of Edwin shouting “foto,” or the flood of emotion that surfaced within me as the children chased after our van, begging us not to leave.

Few realize the significance and power of providing comfort and compassion; that through solidarity and support we can start countering the myriad problems we face. Some say American cultural hegemony is either directly or indirectly the cause of many of the world’s problems. Others proclaim that within the American spirit is a genuine care for the plight of others, but with the problems the world faces, caring and words are not nearly enough. We have become too consumed with the trivial matters of our everyday lives, valuing scores and grades over character, and material objects over the conditions of others. Somehow we lost sense of what is important, and only when we are reminded of the dreadful conditions some face do we feel compelled to make a difference. Unfortunately, even then, that fiery passion that once ignited all too often flickers then fades. This view is not one of pessimism but realism, and it is compassion, empathy, and solidarity that the world now requires.

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