Campus hosts high school Spanish competition

KOKOMO, Ind. - Students from six Indiana middle and high schools showcased their Spanish language skills at a competition on the Indiana University Kokomo campus.

Students from Northwestern Middle School, Northwestern High School, Logansport High School, the Academy at LCSC (Logansport), University High School (Carmel), and Garrett High School participated in the Indiana Spanish Academic Contests, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.

J.R. Pico, teaching professor in Spanish and humanities, said the event included a Spanish spelling bee and competitions in grammar, syntax, oral reading, poetry, Hispanic trivia, theatrical performances, dances, and piñata making.

"This event promotes the importance of learning the Spanish language and the benefits that come with it," he said. "It gave the students a chance to use the language in real-life contexts outside the classroom, show their linguistic skills, get thorough feedback from judges and recommendations for improvement, plus they make new friends and have so much fun."

Logansport High School was the overall winner, with Northwestern High School in second place.

Logansport Spanish teacher Andres Valencia said the event allowed students to practice the language in a fun and interactive way. He added that there were categories for native Spanish speakers and non-native speakers, which made the competition fair and encouraging.

"I think it's wonderful how the categories were varied and showcased a variety of skills, as it included manual arts as well as musical performance in the target language," he said. "It gave them the opportunity to travel to a university and see what being on a college campus is like."

Northwestern Spanish teacher Heather Dubbels said the variety of competitions gave students at all levels of learning the language a chance to practice and show what they've learned.

"It gives them a moment to practice their skills," she said. "They hear the language in the classroom and now they can demonstrate what they've learned and have it graded. It gives them the opportunity to represent their school, showcase their skills, and see their proficiency with the language."

Students also enjoyed experiencing a taste of college life on campus.

"It was a great experience for some students who had never set foot on a college campus," she said. "They got to see the buildings and meet faculty. It was a really good day."

Logansport student Yoslen Robaina Santana said her favorite part of the competition was meeting other students from around the state who value learning about Spanish language and culture.

"I benefitted from a new appreciation for Spanish," she said. "It's amazing to know I am not alone in my language learning. I also benefitted from encouragement for growth and an environment that fosters academic success."

Her classmate Giselle Cruz Mendoza enjoyed making a poster to represent Hispanic culture and countries, which included research about the countries.

"I worked with a team that gave it their all, and we worked together in other categories," she said. "Other benefits were being able to communicate and connect with new people and creating memorable moments."

Chunmei Guan, world language teacher from Logansport, wanted students to participate for exposure to Hispanic culture and languages, and "to develop their global awareness and cross-cultural competences as global ambassadors."

Pico was pleased to welcome the students, teachers, parents, and other guests to campus, to show what IU Kokomo offers to the community and its students.

"This was a very good opportunity to acknowledge Hispanic heritage month, and a great occasion to showcase our campus and the resources we have at IU Kokomo."

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