First semester, Spanish V students went to a restaurant and spoke only in Spanish for their final. This May, Spanish teacher Nancy Perry opened it up to Spanish IV students as well.

In December the students chose La Fronteras as their choice of restaurant, but for this semester they chose La Bodega because Perry’s student teacher, Conny Gutierrez, works there.

Perry believes that it is important for students to get real world experiences and speak Spanish outside of school.

Part of the foreign language goals in Kansas are to have the opportunity for real world experience and this project helps meet the goals.

The catch is that it is required for students to speak only in Spanish while they are there.

“It’s so funny to watch the students. They start so hesitantly and then by the time the chips and salsa come, everyone is talking in Spanish. It’s so fun,” Perry said.

Students had the option to either have a test or have a more relaxed final and talk in Spanish and eat food.

“It’s food versus a test. It’s pretty clear what I prefer,” senior Jacob Sweatt said.

Senior Gabby Stephens agreed.

“It’s a lot easier than a test. You don’t have to study specific questions. It’s more relaxed and stress-free. It’s a great way to learn new things about the language and apply what you already know,” Stephens said.

Learning a language is something that many of these students have been working towards since they began high school, or even the end of middle school. But, many agree that they cannot effective speak it.

Sweatt does not think that they speak Spanish enough in class.

“The only times we speak Spanish is when we do activities like El Siento Caliente. And if you don’t practice outside of class, then you’re never going to talk to those who actually speak it natively. Then there’s no way to apply the knowledge that you’re learning,” Sweatt said.

Experiences have been what most students think they get out of their final.

“It was a lot more of a bonding experience than it was a learning one. I feel like if we focus on the speaking part of it, then it will help those who want to learn to speak it much better,” Stephens said.