By señora Robin Begley, Upper School Spanish Teacher
Last Thursday, my Spanish 450 classes embarked on an enriching excursion to Saint Louis University (SLU). The day was filled with activities, beginning with enlightening sessions led by esteemed faculty members, including Dr. André Zampaulo, Department Chair, Dr. Ana Montero, Spanish Program Coordinator, and Dr. Christy García, Undergraduate Spanish Program Director. Their insights on language acquisition, study abroad experiences, community engagement, and lifelong Spanish learning resonated deeply with us.
Arjun Puri ’25 appreciated the opportunity to reflect on his abilities in Spanish. He said, “My experience at SLU was very interesting, and it has given me more confidence in my abilities in Spanish. After taking a 4100 literature class and conversing with students from SLU, I now have more interest in continuing to study Spanish at the university level. I fully recommend that MICDS continue doing this trip.”
We also had the privilege of meeting two graduate students whose interdisciplinary pursuits in Speech and Hearing, Biology, and Spanish have opened doors to impactful opportunities within the local Spanish-speaking community of St. Louis and beyond. Patrick Huewe, MICDS Upper School Spanish Teacher and World Languages Department Chair, and Juan Artigas, MICDS Technology Support Specialist, accompanied us throughout the day.
Our campus tour, conducted entirely in Spanish by another graduate student, offered valuable insights into iconic landmarks and student-centric spaces. We then indulged in the cultural tradition of la Sobremesa at Salsa Rosada, a Venezuelan and Colombian restaurant, savoring each other’s company.
The day was an eye-opening experience for Hale Foster ’25. He said, “Until that point, I hadn’t really conceptualized how I may continue with Spanish into college, but I learned a lot from the various students and professors we spoke with. It was exciting to hear about all the different opportunities that await me if I were to continue with the language past high school. I really wish we had similar trips for other classes, as I sometimes find myself wishing I knew more about how to continue my studies at the university level, especially for classes like English or history. Of course, my favorite part of the day was lunch! I ate five empanadas.”
Returning to campus, students could attend either Spanish 3100: Spanish Pronunciation or SPAN 4200: Introduction to Hispanic Literature. The day culminated in a reflective discussion with Dr. García and Dr. Zampaulo, exploring newfound insights and avenues for community involvement.
Emily Leyland ’25 shared, “I really liked the reflections of the SLU students. It was interesting to hear about the different ways that the students use Spanish outside of the classroom.”
“Something that surprised me was that I understood so much Spanish during the class we took,” said Lilly Loeb ’25. “My class and señora Begley have taught me a lot about the language that I can apply in the real world, and during this trip to SLU, it helped a lot. Some students were five or six years ahead of us in the language, yet we could still understand what was happening in class.
“The reflective discussion impacted me because it reinforced how important community involvement is to me. Even the fact that the language department at SLU took the time to take us around their campus and out for lunch was an example of community involvement and an experience that we are all thankful for. This year in Spanish class and this trip as well have persuaded me to study Spanish in college or at least take a few classes.”
Other students shared additional reflections:
“I enjoyed the tour, which was in Spanish. The Spanish helped me stay engaged in the tour, and I learned various facts about the campus. The food was also delicious, and the plantains, rice, and beans helped to make this experience even more fun. Overall, a very positive experience!” – Charlie Glass ’25
“My favorite part of the field trip was lunch. We went to Salsa Rosada, a restaurant near SLU that combines cultures and cuisines from Latin America. They served everyone on the trip with a wonderful buffet consisting of pork, rice, beans, and many plantain-based foods. One thing that surprised me was how familiar the classroom environment felt. The day we went, the students in the Spanish class we attended were giving presentations similar to the ones we would give, just about more advanced topics. Our time in the classroom was not as challenging as I thought it would be. We were asked to ask questions about their presentations, and we were able to do so!” – Jackson Vetter ’25
“I have taken Spanish for 13 years, and after MICDS, I don’t want to stop my Spanish studies. I want to continue with it just like the students from SLU who are studying Spanish and other fields. I want to use Spanish in future trips and job opportunities around the world.” – Kriya Doshi ’25
“My favorite part of my experience was the 4100 Spanish Literature class and lunch! It was delicious, and I learned so much about plantains!” – Saivi Gadi ’25
“My experience at SLU helped me understand how to use Spanish to help others in my community by volunteering and working. I now see how I can also have a career using my Spanish after meeting with the coordinators and hearing from students.” – Ashley Ordonez ’26
Spending the day at Saint Louis University was a transformative experience for my students, opening their eyes to new opportunities and broadening their horizons in countless ways. From the moment we arrived, we were immersed in the Spanish language, an atmosphere of academic excellence, diversity, and endless possibilities.
Patrick Huewe, JK-12 World Languages Department Chair shared, “¡Qué emoción! Era tan placentero pasar tiempo con los estudiantes de 450 explorando todas las posibilidades para aumentar su conocimiento de los programas del programa de español en SLU. Además, su habilidad de integrarse en las conversaciones durante las clases era evidencia del desempeño que cada uno ha desarrollado a lo largo de sus estudios en nuestro programa. Sra. Begley merece todo el crédito por haber organizado esta experiencia increíble.” [Translation: What a thrill! It was so enjoyable to spend time with the 450 students exploring all the possibilities to increase their knowledge of the Spanish program programs at SLU. Furthermore, their ability to integrate into conversations during classes was evidence of the performance that each one has developed throughout their studies in our program. Mrs. Begley deserves all the credit for organizing this incredible experience.]
Dr. García’s thoughtful coordination was evident as she planned an exceptional day for us and generously provided students with “goodie bags” to commemorate the experience. For those interested in delving deeper into SLU’s Service Learning initiatives, please contact me, Sra. Begley, at rbegley@micds.org, and I’ll gladly provide further details.