The Magic of New Beginnings

by Alexandra Ivascu, Spanish Teacher

Change can be scary- especially joining a new school, making new friends, getting used to a new system, new rules, and new teachers. This is something that happens every year in our community; however, we are happy to see the new students blend in quickly, becoming more at ease and confident within weeks of arriving.

For some of them, joining our school also means learning a new language. This was the case for two students this year who have just started Spanish lessons: Stefan in Y6 (already known as Esteban) and David D. in Y5.

Let’s hear their thoughts on this new journey.

David Dena:

How do you find Spanish classes so far?

D: They are interesting; I find it easy to understand the vocabulary because I make connections with Romanian. I like the fact that homework is fun and not hard to complete (if you pay attention during lessons).

What are your thoughts on the ‘’What if I was a nutritionist project’’ that you had to submit for the end of Term 1A?

D: It was fun and useful at the same time, because it helped me learn food vocabulary and I am now able to order in a Spanish restaurant; I definitely feel more confident and at ease with this topic. I also know what a daily healthy menu is supposed to look like.

What do you enjoy the most in your Spanish lessons?

D: Learning new vocabulary, trying to guess what a certain word means and how much fun it can be when we get it wrong and we all laugh. I love the fact that mistakes are encouraged during lessons and we learn from them.

Esteban (Stefan Popa):

Why have you chosen Spanish and not German or French?

E: I chose Spanish because it sounds beautiful, and because I thought it would be easier to learn it since it is a Latin language and there are similarities between Spanish and Romanian.

How do you find Spanish classes so far?

E: I find Spanish classes interesting and fun because I am learning so many new things and my classmates are helpful, respectful, and I love working in teams.

What do you enjoy the most in your Spanish lessons?

E: I enjoy working collaboratively and discovering facts about the Spanish culture. For example, this term we are learning about geography and Spanish-speaking countries.

How do you think Spanish language would help you in the future?

E: I want to travel to Spain and it will help me understand the people, the culture, and I will feel confident and at ease.