By Scott Brinton
Merrick's new Spanish teacher, Toni Allen, recently sponsored an essay contest to honor National Foreign Language Week. The essay theme was "Why I'm Lucky to Have Spanish." Allen selected 17 winners from Merrick's three elementary schools - Birch, Chatterton and Levy-Lakeside.
The Merrick School District plans to expand its Spanish program to include grades three to six in 2007-08, if the district's proposed budget passes a public vote.
Here are excerpts from the students' essays:
From Birch Elementary School
Daniel Aronov: "Learning Spanish helps provide opportunities in career, education and lifestyle. When you're look for a job, a second language will be an asset on your resume."
Cosette Esnes: "I am lucky to be learning Spanish (Español) in sixth grade because I will have a head start in middle school."
Hollie Foster: "One reason I am lucky to be learning Spanish is because it has made me understand that learning a language isn't as hard as it looks."
Tyler Goedtel: "Spanish is good because if I take an early exam, I will have knowledge of some of the questions."
Taylor Krug: "I am very lucky to be learning Spanish this year...You can communicate with foreign people in the United States or when you are on vacation."
Corey Shapiro: "In my recent past, I traveled to the Dominican Republic. There, I didn't know how to communicate, but I will next time that I go to a Spanish-speaking country or area."
Rachel Steinburg: "I know from my sister's experience that it is hard to start a new language in seventh grade. Also, Spanish is useful in Spain or here."
Marc Sawfik: "Spanish will help me a lot in life and will open many doors for me in life."
Jessica Vinokur: "In middle school, we will study foreign language as an important class subject. Starting early in elementary school will give us advanced knowledge that will help us understand middle school-level foreign languages."
Cailyn Wright: "There are many great things about learning Spanish. One is that if I apply for a job, I will more likely get the job because if there is a customer who only speaks Spanish, I would be able to help that customer."
From Chatterton Elementary School
Brittany Cafiero: "When you grow up, you want a good education and job, right? Of course you do! Spanish can help you get a good job."
Jillian Campion: "Some kids will come to middle school without having any foreign language experience. I could help them if they have trouble."
Leora Ellison: "Spanish is the second most spoken language in the United States. If you were at school and a Spanish person was in your class, you can meet them and have a conversation with them so they don't feel so different."
Samantha Flax: "If I am on vacation in a Spanish-speaking country, it could be useful to be able to speak to the people there."
Cory Goldberg: "Sixth grade is a great time to learn Spanish because studies show that kids pick up languages easier between the ages of 8 and 12."
Austin Hecker: "My first reason is Spanish is the second most spoken language in the country, so you can talk to more people. There are also more than 20 countries that speak Spanish as a first language. You can also understand more people."
Mike Kotowski: "If I ever spend a long period of time in a Spanish-speaking country, I will not be clueless."
Ryan Mulcahy: "There have been thousands of languages passed down to our day, but the second most used language in the United States is the Spanish language."
From Levy-Lakeside Elementary School
Aaron Birnbaum: "It's easier to learn a second language at a younger ages, especially from ocho años to trece años."
Adam Garfinkel: Any language is hard to learn, but for ages 1 to 13, it's easier. Your mind is still opening up to new ideas and is easy to mold."
Grace Howe: "When I'm older, I would love to travel to countries such as Spain, Mexico and Costa Rica. If I go there, I can communicate using my Spanish."
Daniel Janis: "Next year, I will go into middle school, and because I learned Spanish now, I will be prepared for Spanish as a second language next year, while some others won't be. This way I have sort of an advantage over others coming in who didn't get this opportunity."
Sara Rosenzweig: "Learning Spanish now in the sixth grade will be a great head start for middle school. We will already now how to greet people, say the date, say our address and phone number, say the weather, and how to describe ourselves."
Sofie Russo: "Out of three languages, English, Hebrew and Spanish, my favorite is Spanish. I am lucky to have a teacher who is fun and at the same time never boring!"
Vanessa Sala: "Speaking Spanish is a big job advantage."
Jessica Tabman: "Learning Spanish at a young age is easier than waiting until later in life. In my future, if I get a job with a Spanish-speaking boss, it will help me get the job because I can understand what he or she is saying."
Comments about this story? Sbrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.
