Hillcrest HS AP Spanish Students Live in 'Immersion Village'

Few high school students can boast that they spent four days in a South American country to increase their knowledge of the culture and language. Yet, eight Hillcrest Advanced Placement Spanish 4 students and their teacher can do just that. Hillcrest High School Spanish Teacher Ms. JoEllen Lee, drove over 600 miles to a remote area in northern Minnesota to live in Concordia College’s “Immersion Village” with her students.

“We drove past countless lakes and farm fields. Then, traveled dirt roads to emerge in a “Spanish village,” said Ms. Lee. The students had to use their “passports” to enter the country and exchange their American money for Pesos. The girls had to turn off the English language and let their Spanish language skills kick in. They experienced the Hispanic culture by living in it for four days. “Because of this amazing immersion program, their speaking and comprehension skills increased greatly,” said Ms. Lee.