Last Wednesday, Northwood’s Language Lab held its first cultural event of the year. Once a month, the language lab will be holding a cultural event with the aim of immersing its students in different cultural environments that will ultimately improve their language skills. This past week, the event was centered on the Day of the Dead, which was from November 1 to November 2 this year. For the event, students ate Pan del Muerto made by Jason in the kitchen and watched Coco. They also played a friendly game of trivia with Day of the Dead questions.
Ms. Odell and Mr. Coss oversee the language lab; however, for the cultural events, they leave the leadership up to the language ambassadors. The language lab relies on language ambassadors—students who speak a language natively and help their peers learn that language—to run cultural events like last week’s and help with conversation days during class. Ms. Odell felt that last week’s event “was a success because the event was structured by student leaders and was well attended.” Also, she really appreciated that Jason made the delicious Pan del Muerto for nearly 60 students. Because of his generous act, “everyone was able to experience a real tradition of the Day of the Dead.”
Miss Odell is not sure when and what the next cultural event will be centered on, but she’s still excited about students engaging in another one in the future. The language lab appreciates the language ambassadors and all they do to assist in their peers’ language-learning journeys.