Salsa Day

BY: DAISY G.

Spanish 1 classes recently had their first Fiesta Day on October 17th. Señor, being more specific calls Fiesta Day “Salsa Day” because he hosts other fiestas as well. Señor explained what Salsa day was. “It's a way to introduce the students to new songs, also introducing them to new foods that they typically don't make at home.”

When some of the students were asked what Fiesta Day was, Autumn Lewis, explained, “Fiesta day in our Spanish class is a little party where we get to make salsa.” Another student, Seth Englert explained Fiesta Day as well. “We made salsa and ended up singing a little and just had a good time.”

When Señor was asked why he started Fiesta Day, his response was, “It began as an event during the food culture unit and due to the popularity, it carried over to other units.” He keeps doing Fiesta Day because “It's a wonderful opportunity to work in groups, to try something some of them have never tried before.”

Señor and the students enjoy to switch up their normal routine every once and a while to have Fiesta Days. Ethan Hostetler explains, “It's a nice shakeup from instead of learning you get to make salsa.” Englert agreed also by saying, “I enjoyed it, it was pretty fun.” Lewis, also enjoyed it as much as the other students.“ It gives us basically a day off from Spanish and we can just have fun.” Senor has a similar response. “I love watching my students learn and enjoy being in class.”

Señor added some more opportunities for the students to participate by having the students sing karaoke. He explained, “It was the first time they learned the karaoke” and followed up with “for something that was new to them, they did a great job.”

The students also enjoyed being able to work with their partners. Although Lewis likes having partners, she explains why she also didn't. “I would rather get tested on the words by myself but I enjoy working with a group when making the salsa.” Hostetler also liked having partners saying it’s “more fun with partners.”

Instead of just a day off of classwork and making salsa the whole time, they had a challenge. The students were asked to know how to say how they were going to make their salsa in Spanish before they started. Hostetler also mentioned the challenge.”The part that I thought was difficult but fair, was having to try and memorize the things in the beginning.”

As a result of Salsa Days, the students learn more Spanish while also being able to work together to make something most of them have never made before. They also get to take the day off from working in the class and learn and also have hands-on experience with Latin American culture and food. Many of the students are looking forward to the Fiesta Day.