Paraguayan Students Visit Bethany

Spanish language students from Bethany have been visiting Paraguay every two years since 2003, where they have been hosted by students from Colegio Alberto Schweizter (CAS), a K-12 Mennonite-affiliated school in Asunción. Now Bethany is able to return that favor, hosting twelve students and two teachers from CAS during their Oct. 12-29 visit to the U.S.

The purpose of their trip is to improve their English (especially listening skills and vocabulary), learn firsthand about another culture, and in some cases to reconnect with friends as several students in the group hosted Bethany students on previous visits—and some have stayed connected via Facebook.

During their two-week stay in Goshen, CAS students stayed in homes of Bethany students, participating in daily routines and observing how American families relate together. After a couple of days of learning to know each other, CAS students say they began to feel comfortable participating in American family life. They attended church and school with their hosts and enjoyed hanging out with American teens: going cosmic bowling, watching movies, and eating out. A trip to an amusement park was a highlight for many as well.

CAS students spent most of their days shadowing their host students to classes, where they learned how different school life is from at home: no school uniforms and a different routine. CAS classes for students in grade 7-12 run from noon to 6:30 p.m. and use the same facilities that elementary school students use in the morning (7 a.m. to noon). CAS students don’t have to worry as much about tardies as they stay in one classroom while teachers move from classroom to classroom throughout the day. Having the same class subject several times during a week was also new, as they have a different schedule each day of the week. They also noticed that Bethany students have more choice in selecting their classes. At CAS they are able to choose either a social science or basic science track, but not specific classes—the curriculum for each track is set.

Another major difference they noticed was the significant level of trust at Bethany and in the surrounding community—open doors and fewer fences, gates, or bars on windows. One CAS student pointed to the many open or unlocked student lockers at Bethany and said, “At home, these would be emptied by the end of the day.”

CAS students also assisted in Spanish classes and as presenters in social studies classes. They taught Bethany students some traditional Paraguayan dances and provided some culinary samples: empanadas and mate.

CAS students also visited Chicago, participated in outdoor activities at Amigo Centre, and took many other Goshen area field trips, including a meal in an Amish home. They were particularly struck by the natural beauty of the Goshen area and the difference in infrastructure (buildings, roads, etc.).

The two CAS leaders, Roberto Formigli (administrator and Bible teacher) and Marian Espinola (Bible teacher), anticipate that this will become an ongoing exchange with Bethany. They noted that visits from past Bethany groups was the impetus for them to visit this year and they would like to continue this relationship by bringing students to Bethany every two years as well. Planning is already underway for the next stage of this exchange, June 2011, when Bethany Spanish teacher Marcelo Warkentin will lead another group of Bethany students to Paraguay.