Penpal Exchange with Students in Mexico

8th grade students of Spanish wrote emails to a penpal in a school in Mexico.  First, the class learned a bit about this virtual intercultural exchange through a video prepared by Alex Boyarski, a 12th grade student at Jericho High School who has done volunteer work at a local school in Mexico.  Working collaboratively with Ms. Waters (Spanish Teacher), Alex set up this penpal exchange so that JMS students could practice their Spanish with peers in a Spanish-speaking country.  Next, JMS students brainstormed questions in Spanish to ask of their Mexican peers, and introduced themselves … all in Spanish.  This activity falls in line with the revised NYSED Learning Standards for World Languages: students practiced the interpersonal mode of Communication in their writing.  This activity at Jericho Middle School was a fantastic way to kick-off the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month.   Special thanks to Alex Boyarski, Ms. Waters and Ms. Silva (8th grade Spanish teachers) for coordinating this wonderful exchange! 

Photo: 8th grade students composing emails to their penpals in Mexico