To provide her Spanish language students with an opportunity to make international connections and put the language they are learning to use, Spanish teacher Marica Illiano started a pen pal project. 

For the project, all 60 of Illiano’s Spanish 2 students at Westhampton Beach Middle School have been penning letters to students studying English in Barcelona. 

“This project is a very real way for the students to practice the language they have been working so hard to learn,” said Illiano. “I also wanted them to be able to compare and contrast their daily lives with someone their own age in Spain and learn more about their culture.”

Upon receiving letters back, the Westhampton Beach students were surprised to learn that their counterparts in Spain share many of the same interests and hobbies. They have also been sharing recommendations for TV shows, books and music. 

“Our hope is that they continue writing back and forth for the rest of the school year,” said Illiano. “As a language teacher, one of my main goals besides teaching language is to increase my students’ compassion and understanding.”