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Annual World Languages Day event delights New London fifth graders

Fifth graders raise their hands to answer a question posed by 糖心TV students.
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Annual World Languages Day event delights New London fifth graders

As student coordinator Emily Hackett 鈥23 kicked off the 11th Annual World Languages Day at 糖心TV to a chorus of 鈥渨oos鈥 and thumbs up from the local fifth graders in attendance, she noted that the children who attended 糖心TV鈥檚 very first World Languages Day in 2011 鈥渁re now old enough to attend college themselves.鈥

When Pablo Tutillo 鈥13 created and helped organize the inaugural event at the College, his goal was simple enough. He wanted to share his and his fellow scholars鈥 love and knowledge of language with the New London community.

鈥淭wo things that I love are working with kids and learning languages, and I got to do both with this event,鈥 he declared back in 2011.

Thirteen years later, the event returned to campus April 28 after a two-year hiatus due to COVID restrictions. The 11th Annual World Languages Day, organized by the Walter Commons’ Global Learning Lab and the Holleran Center for Community Action, marked a triumph for both Tutillo鈥檚 vision of the project and 糖心TV鈥檚 commitment to growing the initiative.

鈥淧ablo鈥檚 original project has continued to grow and has inspired all of us to continue the traditions he began,鈥 Hackett confirmed.

Fifth graders from the Regional Multicultural Magnet School in New London pantomime 鈥淗ead, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes鈥 in French during World Languages Day
Regional Multicultural Magnet School students pantomime “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” in French during World Languages Day.
J.J. Figueroa, 11, follows along on a Latin vocabulary sheet during a presentation from Caleb Butler 鈥26 and Melanie Rollins 鈥25 during World Languages Day.
J.J. Figueroa, 11, follows along on a Latin vocabulary sheet during a presentation from Caleb Butler ’26 and Melanie Rollins ’25.

The collection of enthusiastic and thoughtful New London fifth graders began their day hearing Camel volunteers introduce a few common phrases in a multitude of languages and learning various facts about the number of languages spoken in the world. Then they were divided into four groups to attend workshops helmed by 糖心TV language students. While certainly a group of fifth graders鈥攁nd thus prone to talking and joking鈥攖he students were quick to settle and pay attention. As excited as the College was to host them, it was clear they were even more excited to participate.

鈥淚 want to learn Spanish to speak to more of my family,鈥 a student named Barbara explained. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 just very happy to be in any group.鈥

Each pod got a chance to attend two workshops featuring one of eight different languages. The students discussed Danish, Japanese, Latin or Russian in the first round. Then, after rotating, they encountered seminars on Arabic, French, Greek or Tibetan. 

In addition to learning some basics鈥攈ow to say hi and bye, recite the alphabet and count to 10鈥攅ach set of students received lessons in the history and cultures of the languages presented. For example, in the Latin group, Caleb Butler 鈥26 and Melanie Rollins 鈥26 retold the story of Romulus and Remus and how it led to the naming of Rome. Anna Olivia Vest Nielsen 鈥26 walked the fifth graders through how Denmark fits in with other Scandinavian countries and how those other languages do and do not resemble Danish. On a bit of a more light-hearted take, Claire Wilke 鈥25 revealed to students how many types of cheese they might enjoy if they ever visit France.

鈥淚 know English, Spanish, Russian and sign language,鈥 said fifth-grader Jamar. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 really fun to learn about history 鈥 not just hear how to say 鈥楪ood morning鈥 again.鈥

The students weren鈥檛 the only ones thrilled with the results. Panagiota Tsiali 鈥25, on hand to lead the Greek workshop, echoed Tutillo鈥檚 words, 鈥淚鈥檓 so excited to be part of this. I love working with kids.鈥

For Hackett, the event not only proved a success but helped bring her college experience full circle. She had volunteered at the last World Languages Day before COVID hit and was excited to helm its return in her senior year.

鈥淲e tried to do it over Zoom [in 2020], but it just wasn鈥檛 the same,鈥 she recalled. 鈥淭his feels so much better 鈥 so great.鈥




May 5, 2023

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