HUMAN-INTEREST

G-AHS students visit Costa Rica with Spanish teacher

Staff Writer

Echo Pilot

The entourage from Greencastle-Antrim High School that spent time improving their Spanish language skills in Costa Rica were, from left, front row: Lorraine Armstrong, Jacob Holter, Cameron Grosh. Back row: teacher Abby Wishard, Callie Coleman and Hailee Martin.

Five Greencastle-Antrim High School students and their Spanish teacher, Abby Wishard, were immersed in Spanish culture this summer. They attended the Samara Intercultura Language School for five days while in Costa Rica from June 16-24.

Lorraine Armstrong, Callie Coleman, Hailee Martin, Cameron Grosh and Jacob Holter studied four hours a day in classes designed for their skill levels. They were joined by other students from the United States, Canada, Germany, France and Holland. Their courses included Spanish culture, history and grammar, with a Costa Rican instructor. Wishard took a class from a Columbian teacher. At the end of the week, they took a comprehensive exam and received certificates of completion.

The village was on the western coast in the Guanacaste region. The visitors stayed in groups with families who cooked them breakfast and dinner, washed their clothes, cleaned their rooms and helped out as needed. The six ate lunch at a local restaurant.

During free time, the Greencastle crew took surf lessons, kayaked in the ocean, snorkeled, zip lined, took a nature walk, went to the beach and had lessons in cooking and salsa dance.