Five days a week I stand in front of, and among, different groups of students teaching them how to conjugate verbs, pronounce vocab words, and eventually put it all together to form logical thoughts in Spanish, through writing and speaking. We discuss holidays in Spanish-speaking countries, food, and how words differ from country to country. I enjoy the Spanish language and culture! However, there are many students who don’t.
As a teacher, sometimes it can get frustrating when a kid — Just. Doesn’t. Get. It. It’s Spanish! It’s fun! What’s NOT to get and love?! It is too easy to get stuck in that mindset. Then I attend a volleyball game. Or hear a kid sing in chapel. Watch another student play three instruments. Get lost in a character during a drama production. Pop in to the Clendenen Drill Meet. See the successes of HOSA and DECA. These kids do things that I could never do! I can conjugate a verb and talk with people of different countries, but I can’t spike a volleyball, get on a stage for any reason, have the focus or coordination to do knockouts, even if I knew all of the terminology. Math and science are my foreign languages!
Our verse for the year comes from 1 Corinthians 12:4-6. “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.“
Our students have been given a variety of gifts and participate in the numerous activities offered at CLHS. Every student and teacher has their strengths (and weaknesses), and it is amazing to get out of my classroom and see all of the talents that walk these halls daily. They come together to not only create the greatness that Concordia Lutheran High School is known for, but to be part of One Body to further HIS Kingdom.
Most days, these kids teach me more than I could ever teach them, keeping alive the part of our mission statement on “lifelong learning.”
Darcy Lugo,
Spanish Teacher