Superintendents' Video Principals and Teachers Video
|
|
|
Testimonials
Attendees have included education leaders from such organizations as Arizona College Access Network and Arizona School Administrators. School district superintendents, district-office administrators, building principals, counselors, English Language Learner Master Teachers and classroom teachers, both actively working and retired, as well as business leaders have enjoyed the experience.
“It was a most enriching life experience that has renewed my motivation to learn Spanish so that I can build relationships with new and wonderful friends."
“The quality of the teachers was outstanding. Our classes were intense, well paced, personalized, relevant and extremely rewarding.”
“I cannot believe how much I have learned in two short weeks!”
"I loved the gatherings in the plaza, the music, the protests, the singing and the obvious intimacy families have for one another."
“My host mother served us flower-shaped fruit, quesadillas con nopales, pan and café con leche. Then she would sit with us to review our tarea (homework) with the passion of a maestra.”
“The quality of the teachers was outstanding. Our classes were intense, well paced, personalized, relevant and extremely rewarding.”
“I cannot believe how much I have learned in two short weeks!”
"I loved the gatherings in the plaza, the music, the protests, the singing and the obvious intimacy families have for one another."
“My host mother served us flower-shaped fruit, quesadillas con nopales, pan and café con leche. Then she would sit with us to review our tarea (homework) with the passion of a maestra.”
"I had a wonderful experience in Querétaro! My hosts welcomed me with open arms and took care of me like I was family. My teachers at Olé were excellent and challenged me sufficiently. My Spanish has definitely grown!"
"The experience on the trip Los Alumnos trip organized by Carlson and Affiliates was life-changing from the outstanding food and welcoming homestay to the language and cultural classes and travel. I can’t stop raving about it to my friends and colleagues and encouraging them to take this journey into our sister country where many of our students today are coming from. The knowledge and skills gained as well as the interactions with colleagues made this a trip to remember. Not only am I using my Spanish more in my everday life, I have a much clearer understanding of the rich Latino culture and people. I highly recommend attending this well organized, safe and fun learning experience and I can’t wait to go back again."
"This is a great experience...a chance to learn language, culture, travel, and get to know interesting and devoted educators. I loved it. I would definitely recommend this trip...especially for those who have never traveled to Mexico. The experience provides structure, housing, and educational experiences that those traveling on their own might not have access to. I will feel more comfortable using my Spanish while out and about in Phoenix, in the school setting with students and with parents I might encounter in my literacy program."
"I had an excellent learning experience in Queretaro. The adventure was filled with language and cultural experiences that could not be simulated in the states. I would highly recommend the trip to others aspiring to learn Spanish and the Mexican culture. The home stay and cultural tours offered a unique insight to the Mexican culture that I could not have learned by reading about the culture. This experience will affect my work and life in many ways. To begin, because I became a language learner, I now empathize with the language learners in the classroom and the struggles they face. In addition, I feel I am a more well-rounded person with a deeper understanding of the Mexican culture that I live among in the Phoenix area."
"As an educator in a school with a high multi-cultural population and as a dual language educator in a Spanish-English program, the ability to use my enhanced Spanish-speaking skills is priceless. Being able to talk to parents and other peers in a different language is unbelievable to me. I feel like I am able to relate better to non-English speaking parents, and in addition they have more comfort in talking with me and sharing needs and goals knowing that I am making every attempt I can to learn their language and culture. I feel very empowered! I wish I was further along in my practice. I practice talking to myself in the car on a regular basis! Having been involved in a cross cultural experiences makes me feel so much more relevant to students in my school and profession. While I am not a part of a Hispanic culture first hand, I feel like by being in a dual language program, and in a school with so many different cultures my life has much more meaning and fulfillment. It is hard to explain, but my journey to Mexico truly opened my eyes to what I can actually achieve in my professional and personal life. This was a such a gift. I actually think about Queretaro on a daily basis- plotting my return!"
"The experience on the trip Los Alumnos trip organized by Carlson and Affiliates was life-changing from the outstanding food and welcoming homestay to the language and cultural classes and travel. I can’t stop raving about it to my friends and colleagues and encouraging them to take this journey into our sister country where many of our students today are coming from. The knowledge and skills gained as well as the interactions with colleagues made this a trip to remember. Not only am I using my Spanish more in my everday life, I have a much clearer understanding of the rich Latino culture and people. I highly recommend attending this well organized, safe and fun learning experience and I can’t wait to go back again."
"This is a great experience...a chance to learn language, culture, travel, and get to know interesting and devoted educators. I loved it. I would definitely recommend this trip...especially for those who have never traveled to Mexico. The experience provides structure, housing, and educational experiences that those traveling on their own might not have access to. I will feel more comfortable using my Spanish while out and about in Phoenix, in the school setting with students and with parents I might encounter in my literacy program."
"I had an excellent learning experience in Queretaro. The adventure was filled with language and cultural experiences that could not be simulated in the states. I would highly recommend the trip to others aspiring to learn Spanish and the Mexican culture. The home stay and cultural tours offered a unique insight to the Mexican culture that I could not have learned by reading about the culture. This experience will affect my work and life in many ways. To begin, because I became a language learner, I now empathize with the language learners in the classroom and the struggles they face. In addition, I feel I am a more well-rounded person with a deeper understanding of the Mexican culture that I live among in the Phoenix area."
"As an educator in a school with a high multi-cultural population and as a dual language educator in a Spanish-English program, the ability to use my enhanced Spanish-speaking skills is priceless. Being able to talk to parents and other peers in a different language is unbelievable to me. I feel like I am able to relate better to non-English speaking parents, and in addition they have more comfort in talking with me and sharing needs and goals knowing that I am making every attempt I can to learn their language and culture. I feel very empowered! I wish I was further along in my practice. I practice talking to myself in the car on a regular basis! Having been involved in a cross cultural experiences makes me feel so much more relevant to students in my school and profession. While I am not a part of a Hispanic culture first hand, I feel like by being in a dual language program, and in a school with so many different cultures my life has much more meaning and fulfillment. It is hard to explain, but my journey to Mexico truly opened my eyes to what I can actually achieve in my professional and personal life. This was a such a gift. I actually think about Queretaro on a daily basis- plotting my return!"