Last Friday, July 20, 2010, I attended “Trek Around Europa,” a culminating event of the Linggo de Lingua Europa 3. It was a collaboration of the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University. The marathon activity ala Amazing Race was held at the Manny V. Pangilinan Building inside the Ateneo University campus in Katipunan.
Students from participating schools all over Manila: Ateneo, Miriam College, UP Diliman, De La Salle College of St. Benilde, Instituto Cervantes Manila, et.al. were first given the floor as they were randomly asked why they think it’s important to learn a foreign language. A handful of students gave their take, including a Chinese exchange student who shared her thoughts about the beauty of exploring different cultures through learning a second tongue. Bloggers and language enthusiasts also graced the event.
Foreign ambassadors and culture representatives of European Union who were present gave short talks as each shared their thoughts about their respective country’s culture and history as they encourage the audience to learn a second language.
With the Spanish subject getting scrapped out of the middle school curriculum even before I was able to appreciate it, my exposure was mainly of foreign languages randomly uttered by my folks and some Dora the Explorer videos too (which my son used to love). This event ignited a want in me to learn a second language. French or Spanish, perhaps. 😉
Here are some of the photos from the marathon ala Amazing Race, wherein we were divided into groups where we need to go visit 8 stations representing a country of the European Union and do tasks at the least possible time. It was a lot like the Island Cove Adventure we had last year but leaning towards the academics this time around. We were practically given crash courses on the language of each EU station representated. Nevermind if pulse oximeters would probably register high pulse rate if I had worn one. It was fun, nonetheless! 🙂
A shot with my groupmates Erika and Michelle with Gail (Michelle’s friend) and Señora Heidi Aquino, faculty member of Ateneo de Manila University (Spanish professor of Erika, the sole student in the group).
The Punta Europa gameboard. Guess who was the most thrilled when I got home from the Trek Around Europa event – the little guy no less, who is so much into gameboards lately. 😉
Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines
30/F Tower 2, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City
Tel. 859.5100
Website: www.delphl.ec.europa.eu
