Recently, Wardlaw+Hartridge seventh and eighth grade Spanish students traveled to El Mercado: Little Spain at Hudson Yards in New York City for an immersive cultural and language experience. The trip gave students the opportunity to step outside the classroom and use their Spanish in authentic, spontaneous conversations with vendors and staff.
Throughout the visit, students practiced the language skills they have been developing in class while exploring the vibrant Spanish marketplace. They ordered food, asked questions, and interacted with native speakers, all while staying in the target language.
The experience was guided by an essential question that students have been exploring in class: What is the importance of food in maintaining a connection to one’s heritage? As they sampled traditional Spanish dishes and learned about the stories behind them, students reflected on how food serves as a powerful link between culture, identity and community.
The market in Little Spain is a place filled with rich culture and recipes that passed through generations,” Anika Patchigolla ’31 said. “Whether it was the color-popping walls or festive lanterns strung up across the market, it felt like I left New York and stepped into an authentic market. For someone of Latin-American culture, it would feel just like home. The bright atmosphere and music made the whole place feel alive. El Mercado gives people a place to share their identity and eat tasty food together!”
Adding to the collaborative spirit of the day, Upper School AP Spanish students joined the trip as mentors. Their role was to support the Middle School students in maintaining conversations in Spanish and to model confident language use in real-world settings. This cross-divisional partnership strengthened the learning experience and highlighted the supportive community within the Wardlaw+Hartridge World Languages program. Middle School Spanish teacher Sra. Tamica Van Dunk organized the trip and was joined by faculty chaperones Sra. Claudia Gonzalez, Ms. Dorri Ramati and Mr. Jeff Martin.