Students Raise Money to Aid Technology in Argentina
Posted October 15, 2012
Spanish language students at The Hun School of Princeton began a fundraising campaign on September 27th to help equip students at Escuela de Ciclo Basico Comun in Bahia Blanca, Argentina with new classroom technology. The proceeds will provide computers to facilitate their online conversations, continuing the work of students on both continents in a cultural and language exchange.
Over the past three years, students of Melissa Dorfman’s Spanish classes have built relationships with students at Escuela de Ciclo Basico Comun in Bahia Blanca, Argentina. The multi-faceted international exchange has expanded the practice of language for both groups of students. Activities have included letters, emails, blogging, shared voice threads, and conversations by Skype. Over time, assignments have become increasingly technology-dependent, personally connecting students with face-to-face conversations and interactions. However, due to the demand of this type of communication and the limitations of technology at Escuela de Ciclo Basico Comun, students from The Hun School are currently raising money in an effort to send at least one new laptop and connectivity software to students in Argentina.
“We noticed that while our technology capabilities as a school have increased over the years, not all of the students in Argentina have similar access to computers or personal devices,” said Ms. Dorfman. “Often, students in Argentina need to use computer labs at the local university for our students to connect. These sessions, where students speak in a foreign language to native speakers, are extremely beneficial, not only for growth in language comprehension and practice, but in understanding another culture.”
To ensure that students can continue to make connections with students on another continent, they have planned several fundraising events in order to pay for and donate at least one computer that can be kept in the classroom at Escuela de Ciclo Basico Comun. The effort has been dubbed aHa Argenina, and the goal is to resume online conversations by the end of November.
