Polina Soshnin won this award sponsored by the "American Councils for International Education" to study in Egypt and learn Arabic, a third language for Polina, who is a Spanish student at Chugiak High School. Here is what Chugiak Spanish teacher, Sarah Birmanns writes:
When we received the pamphlet about studying abroad, I thought, wow, this is a good starting point for talking about further language study. Anchorage School District is a place where children have the opportunity to study many languages in depth, just one of the reasons I choose to teach here. Anyway, we were discussing the exotic possibilities in class - Egypt, India, China…and the kids were really excited. Many have thought of language study as becoming bilingual, which is awesome. But trilingual? And in a language that is less obvious here in the US? Farsi, Arabic, Mandarin - these are languages for which there is a high demand. A few students talked seriously about it with me and Polina went all the way and downloaded the application, filled out all the information, got letters of recommendation, etc. etc. Still, in the back of your mind, you think, is MY student going to get this opportunity of a lifetime? All expenses paid??? Friday, Polina burst into the room, her face lit up with excitement and she yelled, "I am going to EGYPT!" I thought of the little bird in the Oscar Wilde short story, The Happy Prince, and I also thought, no one deserves it more. Polina is an accomplished Junior at Chugiak High School: she takes extra courses, does her best at all times and is well-known for her tenacity, responsibility and good-natured attitude. It is so exciting to see one of our little birds fly!!! Sarah Birmanns |
