Bilingual Aesop's Fables Play

30 local children recently attended an innovative bilingual Spanish/English camp at Nipmuc Regional High School in Upton. The camp focused on putting on a play—Aesop’s Fables—in both languages.

11 campers were from English Language Learner (ELL) families, some campers participate in the Spanish Immersion school program in Upton/Mendon, some take weekly Spanish lessons, and some knew no Spanish or English at all. Participants were from Guatemala, Mexico, Spain, Westborough, Upton, and Mendon.

“This camp united two communities that are typically divided due to language challenges,” said Laura Mayhew, Westborough parent. “The success of this program really demonstrates a need for local activities that connect our cultures.”

The show was written and conceived by Jen Davis and Bob Nicoll. Eliana Godoy, a social entrepreneur who originally hails from Bolivia, collaborated to strengthen the Spanish language learning and cross-cultural dialog. Davis and Nicoll are well known in the area for their theater and music programs (www.bobnicollmusic.com), including popular, local two-week theater camps supported by the Upton Recreation Commission.

The group would like to thank the First United Methodist Church in Westborough, who loaned a van that transported the ELL students to the high school, and J.J.’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Upton, who sponsored the best post-show cast party ever by donating ice cream to the entire cast and crew.

“There is a huge need for more programs that enable children and their families to engage in cross-cultural dialog and understanding that support families who are raising bilingual children,” said Godoy. “This pilot program helped test ideas that the co-directors have been considering since we first met, and it was a huge success.”

For more information about upcoming bilingual programs, please contact eliana@latinosocialinnovation.org.