The inaugural Senior Spanish Immersion trip took place at Lorne at the end of February. Eighteen students from Years 12 and 13 and 3 staff travelled by coach on a Friday afternoon and were soon settled into their new surroundings eager to improve their proficiency in Spanish. Year 13 student Grace Moore commented “I was really looking forward to the trip and being able to use my Spanish outside the classroom.”
Table of Contents
Day One Spanish Immersion
Their first activity was a Spanish scavenger hunt around the grounds of the estate. In groups the students had to work out the Spanish clues to find 10 items within one hour. All returned within the time and having presented their items it was a very close call between the Year 13 girls and the Year 12 boys. The Year 13 girls were victorious; however, the Teachers were very impressed with the levels of creativity and the high level of competitiveness. The evening continued with una cena italiana, un quiz and Cineclub during which the students watched Volver by renowned Director, Pedro Almódovar.
Day Two Spanish Immersion
After an early breakfast on Saturday the students were eager to get stuck into their ‘taller’. This was an activity based on Dragon’s Den which is called Tu Oportunidad in Spain. In groups the pupils had to create a company name, logo and product and make a pitch to the dragons in order to gain an investment for their company. This gave the students an opportunity to improve their personal skills and capabilities as well as their language skills. The afternoon took the group to the outdoor pursuits centre on the grounds of the estate where they participated in zip-lining and abseiling. The pupils thoroughly enjoyed the activities, enhancing their teamwork skills with several also conquering their fear of heights! The fabulous location and stunning weather meant the group were able to round off the afternoon with a trip to the beach before dinner.
On Saturday evening, Chris Scullion from Salsa NI led the students through a high energy salsa class. The group threw themselves into the activity with gusto finishing with a high stakes dance-off with Finlay Webb and Martha Walker crowned worthy ganadores. The evening came to an end with a tapas party and Spanish board games. Weary but contented students retired to bed to get a good night’s rest in preparation for their Dragon’s Den pitches the next morning.
Day Three Spanish Immersion
On Sunday morning after some final tweaks to products and refinements to pitches the students appeared before the Dragons and were judged on Company name, logo, product name and creativity as well as their presentation skills, pronunciation, and accuracy. The winner was ‘Perros Perdidos’ whose Smart dog collar impressed judges and peers alike. The weekend concluded with the presentation of prizes to the winning company.
The group returned to Wallace High school on Sunday afternoon having formed new friendships and a greater confidence in their knowledge and use of Spanish.
Reflections
Reflecting on a successful weekend, Mrs C. Schumann, Head of Modern Languages, stated the following:
“The inaugural Spanish Immersion Weekend was a fantastic opportunity for our students to develop their language skills in an authentic and engaging environment. Over the course of three days, they demonstrated incredible enthusiasm, creativity, and resilience as they tackled a range of immersive activities, from scavenger hunts and business pitches to salsa dancing and outdoor pursuits. It was inspiring to see their confidence in Spanish grow, particularly as they worked collaboratively to present their ideas and engage in spontaneous conversation. Learning a language is about so much more than just vocabulary and grammar—it’s about culture, communication, and pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone. This weekend encapsulated all of that and more. I have no doubt that the experience has left a lasting impression on our students, and I hope it has strengthened their passion for Spanish as well as their appreciation for the wider Hispanic world.”
You can keep up to date with events and opportunities at Wallace via http://www.instagram.com/wallacehighlisburn
You can find out more about our last Modern Languages trip to Paris via this link: https://www.wallacehigh.org/news/mfl-paris-2024/
Last modified: March 14, 2025
