Spanish Students Connect with Community in Cultural Exchange

Students from Lovett's Advanced Topics in Spanish: Global Citizenship class embarked on a meaningful cultural exchange on Friday, Sept. 5, visiting the Latin American Association's weekly Senior Club gathering of elderly Latino community residents. The innovative language immersion experience, designed by Language Department Chair Olivia Rocamora and Upper School Spanish teacher Eliana Pineda, engaged students with fluent Spanish-speaking community elders in a morning filled with games, food, and storytelling.

The visit began with a twist on the classic game of Jenga. Students had prepared custom game sets, numbering each wooden block to correspond to a "getting to know you" question in Spanish. As participants carefully removed pieces from the tower, they read the numbers aloud and answered associated questions—like ¿Cuál es tu comida favorita? and ¿Qué súperpoder quieres?—creating natural conversation opportunities that bridged generational and cultural gaps.

Following the icebreaker activities, the group moved into a hands-on tapas tasting experience. Students and their senior partners sampled various Spanish foods, using specially designed paddle signs written in Spanish to rate each dish and explain their preferences. The jamón emerged as the clear favorite among participants, sparking the group to lift their five-star paddles that said “¡Está para chuparse los dedos!” (It’s finger-licking good!) and to delve into animated discussions about traditional Hispanic cuisine and family recipes.

Activities continued with a photo-sharing session where students and community members exchanged family and other personal pictures, describing their loved ones, hobbies, and values in Spanish. These personal moments fostered deeper connections as participants shared stories about their heritage, traditions, and family histories.

"Visiting the Latin American Association was an opportunity to understand others in our community while also allowing us to practice our skills in the Spanish language," reflected senior Griffin B. "It was breathtaking to see the impacts that the Lovett Student Body can make on a community and the joy that we were able to bring to each and every one of them."

This visit represents the first of three planned meetings throughout the academic year, all part of the students' participation in a culminating Biblioteca Viva (Living Library) project at the end of the course. During each visit, students will record their conversations with community members, creating an oral history archive while practicing their Spanish language skills in authentic, real-world contexts.

"Everything important happens in the context of relationships," explained World Language Department Chair Olivia Rocamora, whose philosophy drove the creation of this community partnership. "When students joyfully connect with real people and purpose, that's when authentic language acquisition occurs."

The focus on food and family provided the perfect foundation for cultural exchange, allowing students to practice their language skills while honoring the experiences and wisdom of Spanish-speaking community elders. The program demonstrates how language learning extends far beyond the classroom, creating meaningful connections that enrich both students' education and the broader community.

The initiative exemplifies the school's commitment to experiential learning and community engagement, rooted in the educational philosophy established by founder Eva Lovett nearly a century ago. Lovett believed that authentic learning occurs when students engage actively with their community and reflect meaningfully on their experiences. As the school begins its 99th year, this Spanish immersion project embodies that enduring whole-child approach to education, requiring students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world contexts while fostering intergenerational connections that extend far beyond academic achievement. The experience demonstrates how Lovett's foundational educational principles continue to guide students toward becoming engaged, empathetic global citizens nearly 100 years later.