LANGUAGE LEARNERS AREA STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE LATIN AMERICA.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer LANCASTER - Thirty-eight students from Park View Intermediate School's Spanish Club will be venturing to Central America Central America, narrow, southernmost region (c.202,200 sq mi/523,698 sq km) of North America, linked to South America at Colombia. It separates the Caribbean from the Pacific. on two separate trips - one to Mexico's Yucatan and Belize and another to Costa Rica Costa Rica (kŏs`tə rē`kə), officially Republic of Costa Rica, republic (2005 est. pop. 4,016,000), 19,575 sq mi (50,700 sq km), Central America. . Students will not only get to practice their Spanish but climb up the steps of Mayan ruins, view an active volcano volcano, vents or fissures in the earth's crust through which gases, molten rock, or lava, and solid fragments are discharged. Their study is called volcanology. , visit a rain forest and snorkel snorkel, tube through which a submarine or diver can draw air while underwater. When in use, the top of the snorkel tube extends above the water surface into the air. in blue coastal waters. ``It's a lot different from Lancaster. Everything is just so beautiful, the rain forest, and everything is so different,'' said Spencer White, a 13-year-old eighth-grader who went on the school trip to Costa Rica last year. ``That was my first time going to some other place like that where the whole culture is different. I liked it a lot.'' About 26 students are going on the Yucatan and Belize trip from Tuesday to March 15, and 12 more are going to Costa Rica March 20-28. The cost of the trip per student ranges between $1,300 and $1,500, and students have been selling candy to offset expenses. This will be the first time that students will be going to Belize, a small Central American country Noun 1. Central American country - any one of the countries occupying Central America; these countries (except for Belize and Costa Rica) are characterized by low per capita income and unstable governments Central American nation in the Caribbean, known for its diving diving Sport of plunging into water, usually headfirst and often following the execution of one or more acrobatic maneuvers. It emerged as a competitive sport in the late 19th century and became part of the Olympic Games in 1904. spots and dramatic Mayan ruins. ``We are going to the Mayan ruins in Belize, called Caracol, and have a day snorkeling on the Belize reef, which is famous for snorkeling,'' said Jerry Dunn Jerry Dunn is an assistant men's basketball coach at the University of Michigan. He previously held the same position at West Virginia University, but followed head coach John Beilein to Michigan after the 2006–2007 season. , a Spanish teacher and Spanish Club adviser, who is going on both trips. Dunn and his Spanish classes started taking two trips in one school year last year. In 2000, students went to Costa Rica twice. ``We have a great time. The kids are always great and always represent Lancaster and Park View very well,'' Dunn said. ``Everyone tells us wherever we go that we are the best.'' The students who go to the Yucatan will visit the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza Chi·chén It·zá An ancient Mayan city of central Yucatán in Mexico. It was founded c. a.d. 514 and abandoned in 1194. There are extensive well-preserved ruins on the site. , Uxmal and Tulum, and learn about ancient civilizations in Mexico. In Costa Rica, students will hike and take a cable ride through a rain forest and view two volcanoes, one of which is active. Eighth-grader Amber Cavallo, 13, said she chose the Mexico and Belize trip because her mother fretted about her daughter encountering alligators in Costa Rica. ``I don't mind because all my friends are going on the Mexico trip,'' Cavallo said. ``I'm looking forward to the plane ride, and I'm going to be away from my mother for 10 days and be with friends.'' Keturah Brown, 13, said she was looking forward to visiting Cancun, being with her friends, and using what she has learned in Spanish class. ``It sounded really fun and I wanted to practice my Spanish because I'm planning on taking more Spanish in high school,'' Brown said. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion