Leveraging Languages to Bridge Cultures

Written by marketing and communications intern Julia Lealos '24

The World Language Department at BSM enriches the student experience by providing hands-on experiences of cultures and languages. Red Knights are able to converse in foreign languages, gaining a broader global understanding while learning about unique cultures and traditions different from their own.

“Through our variety of available courses, we meet the students where they are and provide diverse opportunities for students to increase their proficiency,” said Megan Hansen, BSM’s world language department chair.

By emphasizing a curiosity to learn about others, students can further open their minds, being respectful of our differences and at the same time, leading to a stronger sense of community within BSM. The student experiences within the language department are diverse and creative, providing unique ways to master a language while being respectful and appreciative of the cultures where the languages are spoken.

BSM is pleased to announce that 32 students received language seals during the 2023-2024 school year, reflecting their hard work and proficiency in multiple languages. Upon graduation, BSM awards students the Minnesota Bilingual Seals and Certificates.

Three students, Olivia Olson ‘24, Steven Sibri Pina ‘24, and Madeline Kaltsas ‘26 received platinum bilingual seals in Spanish, five students. Connor Armand ‘24, Elizabeth Brill ‘24, Julia Lealos ‘24, Jackie Montoya Aguilar ‘26, and Jack Scallon ‘26 received gold bilingual seals in Spanish while Lara DePauw ‘24, and Elisabeth Malrait ‘25 received gold bilingual seals in French. An additional 21 students received world language proficiency certificates in Chinese, French, and Spanish.

“We encourage students to pursue bilingualism and biliteracy,” Hansen explained, noting “These communicative skills are highly useful for living and working with people from a variety of backgrounds.” Throughout the course of the school year, students have a variety of activities in and outside the classroom to hone their language skills.

Here are some examples from the 2023-2024 school year which highlight the world language experience at BSM.

French Speaking Contest Winners
Ninety-three BSM students participated in the annual A Vous la Parole French speaking contest held in Coffman Memorial Union at the University of Minnesota in April.

Sponsored annually by the Minnesota Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French, with the support of the University of Minnesota Department of French and Italian, the contest recognizes excellence in French speaking skills. This year’s contest drew 452 entries among students in grades 7-12 from across Minnesota.

The various categories include prose and poetry recitations, theater presentations, song performances, extemporaneous reading, extemporaneous conversation, as well as original skits. Students are given ratings based on a four-star system with four stars earning them a blue medal, three stars earning a red medal, and two stars earning a white medal. All participants receive a certificate of participation regardless of their particular rating.

Several junior high students received honors including silver medalists Eloise Burns ‘29, Elena Luger ‘29, Holland Hebert ‘29, Ayslin Wanless ‘29, and Lucy Christenson ‘29, bronze medalists Elle Rieck ‘29 and Emma Root ‘28. Honorable mentions were awarded to Connor Jeffcoat ‘28 and Kiran Ambur ‘29. In the senior high, Ruby Nguyen ‘26 was awarded a gold medal and Elizabeth Cornell ‘27 took silver.

Students with gold and silver medals were honored at The Grand Concours Awards Breakfast in St. Paul.

Sebastian Cerda Wins Scholarship
This past April, students took the National Spanish Exam (NSE), including rising senior Sebastian Cerda who received a national scholarship for his outstanding effort. The Kevin Cessna-Buscemi Global Citizen Scholarship is a very special honor only open to students placing in the 75th percentile or above on the NSE.

The award offers a scholarship to attend either the United Planet virtual program, or the Concordia Language Villages summer programming, which offer full immersion in the Spanish language. Cerda attended the United Planet program, during the Global Citizen Cultural Immersion week. Cerda joined students from around the country on Zoom for five days to learn about cultural traditions, legends, foods, celebrations, arts, and dances from Peru, Colombia, Mexico, and Ecuador.

World Language and Culture Week
During the 2023-2024 school year, BSM continued to expand offerings in the language department, boasting many impressive achievements. At the beginning of this year, BSM celebrated World Language and Culture Week, featuring foreign foods served by Taher in the cafeteria, decorations, trivia, and prayers from around the world. The week was a celebration of diversity within BSM and across the globe.

French Books
In February, students in French 3 made books for kindergarteners at the French Academie Immersion School. The young students paid a visit to BSM where our Red Knights were able to read to them and practice their French skills.

Spanish Trip to the Zoo
Students in AP Spanish Language and Culture visited the Minnesota Zoo serving as bilingual guides, presenting on animals they had researched. The students spent weeks preparing their presentations and accompanying visuals on the animals before presenting in Spanish to an audience at the zoo. Once they finished, they got to check out their animals in person!

Concordia Language Villages
In March, students in Spanish 1, 2, and Junior High classes visited the Concordia Language Village in Bemidji. They played games, tried authentic foods, and learned about culture in Latin American countries and Spain. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to practice their skills and explore diverse cultures.

Italy Spring Break Trip
Over spring break, Latin teacher Rob Epler took 19 Red Knights on the biennial Italy trip. BSM students and faculty explored Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Naples/Pompeii, Capri, San Gimignano, and Rome over the course of eight days.

They learned about the rich tradition in Italy and ancient Rome while immersing themselves in food, dance, and history. Activities included visits to many Catholic churches, a cooking class, a boat ride around the island of Capri, several tours of famous landmarks, a dance lesson, and a demonstration on glass blowing. BSM Latin students impressed our tour guides with their expansive knowledge and enthusiasm for all things Roman!

Global Market Field Trip
Students in Spanish 5 visited the Midtown Global Market in April, learning specifically about the different cuisines of Latin America. They enjoyed a food demonstration, a salsa dancing lesson, lunch, and a scavenger hunt of the market in Spanish.

Stations of the Cross
During the Easter season, 12 students in AP Spanish Literature and Culture prepared and then staged the stations of the cross for BSM theology and Spanish classes, narrated entirely in Spanish. The play was performed in shadows behind a curtain and was accompanied by student-led music. It was a moving performance and a great way to reflect on the sacrifice made by Jesus during the triduum of Holy Week.

Students rehearsed in class for a month before performing for their peers, coordinating scripts, props, and roles. AP Spanish Literature teacher Mary Murray continues the tradition every year during the Easter season, managing the students and soundboard for the production while also teaching about the importance of Holy Week, or Semana Santa, in Spain.

Risen Christ Books
After a nearly month-long service project, students in grades 9-12 presented and read books they created to students grades K-3 at Risen Christ Catholic School in South Minneapolis. Red Knights worked in their Spanish classes and with each other to write their own stories in Spanish for each student from Risen Christ, based on their interests. After writing the stories, they created illustrations and assembled the books, bringing them to Risen Christ School where they met the students and read the books together.

Red Knights spent the day at Risen Christ practicing their Spanish with the students, showing off their books, and playing at recess with them. It was a perfect blend of learning and service that we are proud to offer our community.

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As the new school year quickly approaches, the language faculty are preparing for another year of exploring cultural diversity and mastering fluency. “We believe that students gain greater insights into their own language, values, and culture through the study of a second language and its cultures,” Hansen said, adding, “I believe BSM’s second language instruction is of a very high quality because it is student-centered, proficiency-based, and incorporates the use of higher-order thinking skills, authentic assessment, and technology to increase language and cultural knowledge and it enables students to interact with the world.”