The New Lebanon eighth grade Spanish class, under the direction of Spanish Teacher Kara Siciliano, went on a field trip to New York City in March. This project was supported by a grant from the New Lebanon Education Foundation, a fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. The objective of the trip was to raise awareness and understanding about the cultural richness and presence of Hispanic culture as it exists in Harlem.
The students took a guided walking tour of Spanish Harlem, visited the Hispanic Heritage Museum, El Museo Del Barrio New York, and had a meal at El Café Española, where the students ordered authentic Hispanic dishes and foods in Spanish.
Spanish Teacher Kara Siciliano said, “As I observed my eighth-graders during the day I could not have been more impressed by their inquisitive questions and their ability to analyze the artwork and draw connections between their favorite piece of artwork in El Museo del Barrio to the themes they experienced and discussed on the walking tour of Harlem.” After being immersed in the cultural experience a student said, “Each person is like a piece of a puzzle; they have something different to offer, but when they all come together they fit and make a whole.”
This experience gave students the opportunity to learn about acceptance, community and cultural awareness and to see firsthand how prevalent the Spanish language is outside of the classroom.
