The Lakewood High School world language department hosted a celebration on Tuesday, Feb. 17, for Carnival (Mardi Gras) and Chinese New Year. The rare alignment of the events allowed teachers to combine the festivities into an all-day event for foreign language students.
“They are both joyful celebrations across Germany, France, French-speaking countries, China, and Spanish-speaking countries,” said Matt Heslep, who teaches Spanish 3, 4, and 5. “We thought it would be nice to have some fun and distract us from all the snow and cold weather we’ve been struggling through.”
The celebration lasted throughout the day, with each language room offering different activities. In Heslep’s room, there was dancing as he and Leah Strejcek, another Spanish teacher, led students through merengue and bachata routines. In the third Spanish teacher, Erin Costello’s room, a variety of foods representing various cultures were prepared and available for students to enjoy. Katherine Braquet, the French teacher, created a relaxing spot to chat with friends. Piwen Ku, the Chinese teacher, hosted games for students to play.
Gregory Sent, the German teacher, offered a letter-writing station where students could show appreciation for their teachers. Students received two sets of Mardi Gras beads—one for themselves and one to give to a teacher of their choice, along with the letter detailing their appreciation.
The festive atmosphere extended to student attire, with a contest held for the best-themed outfit within the period. Students dressed in yellow, purple, and green to represent Mardi Gras, and red and gold for the Chinese New Year.
“It was impressive to see the effort people put into the event, not only the teachers with the decorations but the students’ ideas with their outfits,” said senior Nick Hart, a Spanish 5 student.
Every period, students received one sticker at the beginning and gave it to whoever they thought was the best-dressed. Winners were crowned at the end of each period. Heslep noted this as his favorite event of the day, as it showcased students’ dedication and allowed them to express themselves in many ways.
For many students, the informal setting was a welcome break from the traditional classroom structure.
“This event gave me a more comfortable way to interact with others, without the pressure of sitting awkwardly at a desk and being told to work with someone I don’t know,” said junior Maria Zadravec, a Spanish 1 student.
Heslep hopes the event broadened students’ cultural perspectives. “I hope the students learn that the best part of language learning is finding out about the cultural practices of the people who speak the language,” he said.
The event allowed students to access different cultures by dancing, eating, and playing cultural games. “This event made me realize how special and unique Carnival is in Latin America,” Hart said. “After experiencing it briefly through this celebration, I now want to experience the real thing.”
On a typical day, world language students are only exposed to the culture in places where the language they chose to learn is spoken. The party shifted the dynamic by bringing them all together. Students were not just learning a language—they were living it.
