Bloomington High School North, Nikean, 2015, Page 9

Description:	IIII■ Hal Hi HiI WIIII Ut m HiH HI H HiCaught in the rain and lost, senior Stephanie Haddadwandered through the streets of Ciudad Real, Spain aswater droplets and foreign words poured down on her.While searching through unfamiliar streets, Haddadwas able to communicate with locals that helped herfind her way home.Thanks to the IU Honors Program, other advancedhigh school Spanish speakers from across Indiana willsoon be finding out if they will be given the opportunityto travel abroad. Those who are accepted will fly toone of three cities in Spain, or a city in Chile or Mexicoto begin a full language immersion program. They willspend seven weeks with a local host family and attendclasses with other students from Indiana.The experience really changes students. Itswonderful, Spanish teacher Clara Garcia said.Haddad started the application process in October201 3. She filled out a huge application, took aSpanish placement test, and completed an interview inSpanish and English. After being accepted, she took anine-hour plane ride to Ciudad Real, Spain in June2014 to begin the challenges and adventures of hertrip.I was so nervous. Im a very talkative person. Notbeing able to speak my mind was frustrating, Haddadsaid.However, Haddad learned quickly. She attendedclasses from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the week thattaught her and other Indiana students about Spanishgrammar, culture, communications, and literature.An immersion program is the best way. Youre prettymuch forced to learn the language, Haddad said.Along with being exposed to the language, Haddadexperienced life with her host family. The family shewas placed with had a 21-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter, whose picture Haddad carries with heron her phone case.Since youre living with a host family, you builddeeper connections, Haddad said.She has kept in contact with her host family and plansto return to Spain in the future.She has kept in contact with her host family and plansto return to Spain in the future.It was an amazing summer filled with new memoriesand relationships that I will never forget. Ciudad Realwill always be my second home.\ 9
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomnorth/id/7918
Collection:	Bloomington High School North

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