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A Spanish teacher at Hidden Valley High School is organizing a trip to Peru for high school students in April 2009.

Caterina Murdock is holding an informational meeting October 14 at 5:30 p.m. at Hidden Valley Country Club.

Here’s what she tells us about the trip:

" In my attempts to offer students authentic language situations, I have made some additions to my repertoire of tools. This year I offer my students the opportunity to have international chats with other students in Spanish-speaking countries using the internet, speakers, a microphone, text messaging and when available, a webcam. It has been very interesting and my students really look forward to it.

Another attempt at offering my students authentic language situations resulted in my researching study abroad programs. This Spring, I am offering any high school student who has studied Spanish (Spanish II and up) the opportunity to do an intensive study, stay, work and play program in Cuzco, Peru with a charitable organization called A Broader View (hereinafter "ABV"). I am running the trip independent of Hidden Valley HS and I have no affiliation with ABV. I feel that the typical tours offered by many schools to tour countries and major cities does not meet the needs of students to be put in authentic language situations. They usually travel with their group and continue speaking English with their group except in casual service-driven situations. Study abroad programs can also be unsuccessful when students fall into the "speaking English with other fellow Americans trap" once their language instruction for the day is completed. What I love about the programs offered by ABV is that the students will have classroom instruction half the day, and then they will work with local Peruvian children at a home or hospital where they are "forced" to apply their Spanish for the second half of the day. The beauty working with children is that the students will be unlikely to feel self-conscious about speaking Spanish with them. In turn, the Peruvian child will speak to the Spanish students with their own accent and their natural speed of conversation, but the "content" of their conversations will be non-threatening. The Spanish students will need to understand them to fulfill their basic needs and requests (not to discuss literature and politics). Even though they will go to Cuzco, Peru with other American students from the area, the volunteer facet of the program guarantees them spontaneous application and synthesis of the Spanish language learning.

The program offers students a chance to get their feet wet before doing a longer term study abroad. It will take place during the Roanoke County Spring Break period (April 10-18, 2009). The costs for tuition and airfare are tax deductible as ABV is a 501 (c)(3) organization. The trip will cost approximately $2375-2550. This is basically the standard price for the common "tourism" only educational tours. I need to get together at least 15 students from the area."