This year, instead of having several “Languages days”, we decided to focus on one day only. To make the experience more meaningful for the students, with the help of the Cultural Center, we were able to invite artists so the students could participate in workshops depending on the language they study.
- In Italian, Roberto Scarcella Perino (opera author) worked with Y7 to Y10 in the music room.
- In German, artist Bastienne Schmidt was with Y7 to Y10 in the MakerSpace.
- In Mandarin, Y7 to Y10 talked about Kung Fu culture and philosophy as well as taught some movements with the Bo Law Kung Fu Association in the Small Gym.
- In Spanish, Flamenco singer Alfonso Cid lead workshops for Y7 and Y10 with his team in 2 different spaces: the Auditorium and the Motricity Room.
Spanish
Students in seventh and tenth grade had a unique opportunity to take part in a flamenco workshop with vocalist Alfonso Cid, dancer Nelida Tirado (Nelly) and guitarist José Moreno. Students first took the stage with the three artists for a demonstration of bailaora by Nelly. She took them through basic techniques such as las palmas (hand rhythms) and taconazos (foot rhythms). The students then brought their new skills together blending song and dance in one final moment
Justine Szarek & Farida Meddah - Spanish teachers
Italian
For Languages Day, the Italian program was thrilled to welcome Roberto Scarcella Perino, an opera composer who teaches Italian Language and History of Italian Opera at NYU. Roberto led a workshop where students sang four pieces from two of his song cycles: Le Passioni dell’Aria (about the weather phenomena) and Le Passioni dell’Anima (about emotions). The workshop consisted of a crescendo of activities (comprehension of the lyrics, music production accompanied by pianist Andrew Henderson, listening to the recording and interaction with the guest), that culminated with the students successfully creating their little songs with the assistance of the composer, the pianist and Sonia Rocca, their Italian teacher.
Sonia Rocca - Italian teacher
Mandarin
BO LAW KUNG-FU class teaches student not only Chinese Martial arts :self-defense and behavioral skils such as memorization and concentration but also teaches students the embedded Chinese culture and life philosophy: resilience, perseverance and respect for others.
Susan Wei - Mandarin teacher
German
Our students of German in seventh to tenth grade went to the Maker Space for workshops with Bastienne Schmidt, a German visual artist in New York, to work on a giant group fresco on the theme of Raumwahrnehmung, or “a sense of place”. The objective was to illustrate through painting, drawing or collage a place that they love the most.
Sophie Pottier - German teacher
About the Author :
Vaitea Grand was raised in French Polynesia in a multilingual environment. He went to college in Toulouse, France and completed his master’s degree in Iberian Studies at the French institute of Madrid. He then passed the French National Education competitive exams, and taught Spanish in high school, middle school, as well as Spanish literature at the Université Paris 3 – Sorbonne-Nouvelle. In 2013, Vaitea joined the Awty International School of Houston where he taught Spanish and French and also became certified as a soccer coach. He joined the Lycée in 2016 as a Spanish teacher, head of the World Languages Department and he is now coaching the Varsity boys soccer team.