Student earns trip to Mexico through Spanish competition
3/24/2008 12:03 AM   0 comments on this story E-mail this story to a friend

By ROB NOVIT
Senior writer
Three years ago, Meredith Walker found her favorite subject in Spanish I as an eighth-grade student of Margret JiLani at Schofield Middle School.
That interest has only escalated and paid off unexpectedly for Walker, now an Aiken High junior taking Spanish IV with teacher Forough Shahidpour.
Walker is one of six students nationally who won a 12-day trip to Mexico this July, thanks to a competition sponsored by the American Association of American Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. Earlier this year, Walker mentioned her interest to Shahidpour in traveling to any Spanish-speaking country.
"She came across this contest," Walker said. "I did an interview and essay and had to score high enough on the National Spanish exam. I was really surprised to be selected."
Shahidpour said Walker scored in the top 10th percentile at the state and national levels on the National Spanish Exam II as a sophomore. Shahidpour conducted the interview herself, videotaping it for submission.
"They liked her qualifications, the way she spoke and wrote," Shahidpour said. "It's a great opportunity, and she will be a good ambassador from the United States."
Walker hopes to continue to live in South Carolina as an adult and knows that Spanish fluency will be helpful. She also enjoys art and music and has been active in Aiken's community theater program. Walker wrote about her desire to explore those interests in Mexico and to learn more about Hispanic culture. She also sees the trip as a chance to become more immersed in the language.
"Some kids in my class have done mission trips to Honduras and Costa Rica," Walker said. "It really affects how they can speak."
That class, said Shahidpour, is actually a combination of Spanish IV and Spanish V, and English generally is spoken only to clarify a grammar question. Her students will be eligible to take Spanish V formally next year, which also is a combination class. The students can take the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests in 2009.
Meanwhile, Shahidpour is celebrating Walker's success.
"She has an excellent facility to learn quickly, and it stays with her too," Shahidpour said. "She speaks nicely and writes well, and I'm very proud of her."
Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.

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