Lewis U's StarTalk Helps VVSD Students Learn New Languages

Editor's note: The following is a release issued by Valley View School District.

Twenty-three high school students earned college credits while learning the basics of a new language over the summer through a free program

“Students were selected on the basis of a number of factors, including their academic achievement and their commitment to continue studying the target language in the future,” said Assistant Professor Serafima Gettys, coordinator of Lewis’ foreign language program.

“It was pretty much introductory stuff,” said junior Kevin Silva, who participated in Arabic classes. “We learned greetings. We learned colors. I also learned to say what languages I speak, where I live and numbers and letters.”

In all, 45 students attended classes, put together projects and went on field trips from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. five days a week for three weeks.  Some took Chinese. Some took Russian. Some took Arabic.

Silva, who also speaks Spanish, said he uses some simple Arabic words around the house “like thank you, you’re welcome, yes, no … just so I can remember them.” With college on the horizon and a possible major in jazz theory, he’s hoping he qualifies for the program again next summer.

“I just want to get better at it,” Silva said. “Hopefully opportunities will open for me in the future so I can use what I’ve learned.”

Other RHS students in the StarTalk summer camp included Amarpal Singh, Cynthia Romero, Courtney Nurczyk, Michael Page and Marlena Pierzchala.

students included Kelsey Schaeflein, Claire Pigors, Alan Favela, Mariah Luna, Vivian Huynh, Andrea Santiago, Carrie Anderson, Damon Castleman, Michelle Luna, Yumna Zaidi, Eridiam Llanas, Shayaq Masood, Ariel Smith, Sydney Avila, Simone Beckley, Kristena Johnson-Wise and Laura Seimetz.