Carden students visit Olvera Street
Carden students visit Olvera Street
By: Courtesy of Carden School of Tehachapi
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Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments “Quisiera la combinación número tres, por favor,” was the most common request by Carden 8th grade students at a restaurant on Olvera Street on Friday, Dec. 14.
Though nervous about speaking Spanish outside the classroom, almost all the students ordered in Spanish and were pleased with the results.
“She understood me!” exclaimed one student.
“Yeah, and I actually got what I wanted,” laughed another.
While waiting in line to order their lunch, students could be heard asking, “How do I say what I want again?”
The students excitedly helped each other practice. Most of the parent chaperones (with a bit of tutoring) even ordered in Spanish to the delight of the students.
Olvera Street is one of the oldest streets in Los Angeles with the oldest standing home built around 1818 and known as the Avila Adobe. The field trip was planned as a cultural experience by the teacher, Mrs. Charlotte Mason, and the Spanish teacher, Sra. Consuelo McCullough.
“They've been working hard in Spanish and deserve a break,” said Mrs. Mason. “And they had an opportunity to experience the value of learning another language,” she added.
Having taken the MetroLink from Lancaster to Union Station and after eating lunch, the students then walked along Olvera Street and shopped among the many vendors. Though disappointed that bargaining was not part of the Olvera Street scene, the students were happy with their purchases…which ranged from Mexican masks to costume jewelry to glass blown art in the form of a jellyfish (a special request). They even noticed that cascarones (painted egg shells filled with confetti) were being sold.
“Ours are prettier,” remarked one student of the cascarones they were required to make for their Spanish class.
As an added treat, the group walked about half a mile to Chinatown and experienced a very different culture. The adults were quite surprised to see many students buying bonsai or bamboo plants as Christmas gifts or for themselves. The field trip concluded with the train/automobile trip back home by early evening.
Carden instituted a program this school year that involves teaching the equivalent of high school level Spanish I to students in grades 6, 7, and 8. By meeting specific requirements, students will then be permitted to enroll in Spanish II in high school. The trip to Olvera Street is just one opportunity that the students will have to exercise their Spanish outside the classroom.
¡Hasta luego, amigos!
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