A select group of fourth and fifth grade students from Naval Station Rota's David Glasgow Farragut's (DGF) Elementary School visited students assigned to Padre Jose Casal Carrillo School in San Fernando, Spain, as part of a new school exchange program, Feb. 16.

"For many years we've been doing exchanges where schools come to our school and look around," said Mishel Flake, DGF Elementary world language teacher. "But what we realized was that the kids weren't getting a true exchange experience. It was more like a tour. There wasn't as much exchange of ideas between the kids, so last year we came up with this idea of an academic exchange where they're taught a lesson and this lesson is taught in English and in Spanish by both teachers."

DGF Elementary students selected for this exchange program will be visiting a total of four different schools throughout the school year.

"We're the only school worldwide that has this opportunity to take our kids to a Spanish school and invite the Spanish students to our school," said Beth Peris, DGF Elementary Spanish teacher. "They can actually converse and be with people from the country and the native speakers. These kids are highly motivated to learn the language, so it's really neat when we do these activities. They're really trying to speak and learn and they pay attention. They're a great group of kids."

Mila Acosta, principal of Padre Jose Casal Carrillo School, thanked the DGF students and teachers and presented gifts at the end of the lessons.

"I think this experience is very important because the students from the American and Spanish exchange students have the opportunity to practice their languages and share experiences," said Acosta. "The children made new friends and they can continue their friendships. I want to thank the teachers and principal for giving us the opportunity for this second exchange."

The lesson of the day included basic terms, language activities and cultural dances.

"I learned some more Spanish," said Rebecca Owins, a DGF fifth grader. "I learned what Spanish schools were like and I learned a couple of new dances. I'll be here for a while, so I want to learn all the Spanish that I can."

The success of DGF Elementary School's student exchange for the second year in a row creates hope for the teachers on and off base that their students will find a love for speaking a second language.

"One of the reasons why we do this is because we're hopeful that this will ignite a love for learning a second language by having this opportunity to converse and play, talk and eat with students from the host nation country," said Peris. "It's a wonderful opportunity because if you have that gift so many doors are open to you. The key is to know the language. That's what we hope for."

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