Students sing to travel `down Mexico way'.

Byline: Karen McCowan The Register-Guard

COTTAGE GROVE - In four years of teaching high school Spanish here, Maya Brachmann hasn't taken her students on a trip to Latin America. She's a strong believer in the educational value of language and cultural immersion. But she also knows that the economic recession hit this community hard and such trips are expensive.

Neither fact has changed, but Brachmann and 10 of her Spanish Club students are planning a June trip to Mexico, where they will retrace the steps of the Aztec ruler Moctezuma and the Spanish conquistador Cortes.

To help defray the $1,170-per-student cost, the club is taking a page from their school music department.

For three years, local community theater veteran Kate McLearn has produced the "Rhythm and Blues Revue" at the Cottage Theater.

Now McLearn, the parent of Mexico-bound Spanish student Anna McLearn, has volunteered her services to produce another musical benefit, "Groovin' in the Grove." Spanish Club members will join professional and Cottage Grove High musicians in staging a show featuring songs by Aretha Franklin, Elton John, the Supremes, James Taylor, Richie Valens and Stevie Wonder, among others.

For some of the students, the educational trip will be their first one out of the United States.

"I've never been on a plane, never been out of the country, never done anything really special," said student Lacey Schueller.

"I'm really looking forward to this."

Others already know the power of a visit to another country.

"I traveled to Europe a couple of years ago, and it really opens your eyes to see what's beyond your own little town," said student Kirsten Snyder. "I really want to see the culture of Mexico and avail myself of the chance to be immersed in another language."

Brachmann said she tired to pack the trip with educational value, choosing destinations that will give her students a taste of Mexican history as well as opportunities to converse with native Spanish speakers.

"A strictly vacation trip they could take with their families," she said.

The students will visit Mexico City, the Aztec pyramids at Teotihuacan, the silver mines of Taxco, and Xochimilco, site of the legendary floating gardens, before ending their trip at Acapulco on the Pacific Coast.

GROOVIN'

IN THE GROVE

Musical benefit for Cottage Grove High Spanish Club's Mexico trip

When: 2:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. Sunday

Where: The Cottage Theater, 700 Village Drive

Tickets: $12 for adults and $9 for seniors/students at the door; $10 for adults and $7 for seniors/students in advance (at The Bookmine or Farmhand Feed and Home Co.)

The show: Professional musicians Matt Treder, Paul Wurster, Mark Schneider, Jim Reinking and Chris Klein, along with student and community instrumentalists and singers, will perform. The Spanish Club will also sing, backing up Argentine exchange student Paloma Brun on"Guantanamera."

CAPTION(S):

Teacher Maya Brachmann (left) leads a group of Cottage Grove Spanish Club members, including Mia Burger, Lacey Schueller, Kirsten Synder, Andrew Pulido and Emily Sperling, in a rehearsal for an upcoming musical fund-raiser.