A Healthy Dose of Learning: Youngsters Work with DU Spanish Students on Skits

For the second year, 12 students from Beechwood Elementary School will perform skits at Duquesne after working with University students in upper-level Spanish classes.

Dr. Lucia Osa-Melero

These 5 to 8-year-olds, recent immigrants from Mexico, will showcase their learning on Thursday, April 14, at 5:30 p.m. in Room 625 of Fisher Hall.

The 20 college students have generated skits based on healthy living and disease prevention, working with Carmen Alicia Martínez, an adjunct lecturer teaching Spanish for the Health Professions, and Dr. Lucia Osa-Melero, assistant professor in the Department of Modern Languages. Osa-Melero was honored as a SANS Inc./Mead Leadership Fellow for the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages for her community scholarship.

The Duquesne students and faculty are creating the second edition of Reading to Play, Playing to Read in collaboration with Casa San José, an afterschool program that links Latino neighbors with service providers in their communities to welcome them and promote integration.

“While this project provided the children with a space where they learned about healthy habits, good nutrition and the benefits of exercising daily, our college students have reported gains in oral language, summarizing skills and an appreciation of Hispanic culture within their community,” said Osa-Melero. “Through fun and engaging skits, our students in the Spanish for the Health Professions class have had the chance to inform young Spanish native speakers about the importance of sickness prevention and healthy nutrition in our society.”

The event is free and open to the public.