Language experts say that the best way to acquire a second language is by immersion — which can refer either to a method of teaching in which classes are conducted using only the second language, or surrounding oneself with the language and culture.

Students of Campion College who are preparing to sit Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Spanish oral exam later this month took heed when they organised an intensive practice session with the assistance of native Spanish speakers a week ago.

For three hours, they spoke only Spanish — from introductions, to small group discussions, and a game of Pictionary.

“The issue that we had with a lot of students, not only at Campion but in Jamaica, is with the oral skills in Spanish. Many of them can read and write, but to listen and speak is a lot harder,” Jason DeCambre, fifth form student and president of the Modern Languages Club, which organised the workshop, told the Jamaica Observer.

“So we wanted to link those who needed oral practice with those who were willing to help and we wanted to create a forum where it was easy and fun,” he said.

The workshop consisted of small discussion hubs which featured one native Spanish speaker to a group of approximately 10 students and a lively game of Pictionary which came after a few rotations of the groups. The topics covered in the hub included those covered in CSEC Spanish Orals such as home and family, sports, travel, daily routine, school, career, and shopping.

Carmen Rives Ruiz-Tapiador, ChargÃ&Copy;e d’Affaires at the Embassy of Spain, was delighted to be part of the immersion workshop.

“I have noticed a lot of English speakers afraid to speak a second language because they’re not perfect at it, but you must not be afraid to make mistakes because that’s how you learn.

“So, I am encouraging the examination students to forget shyness, being ashamed or any other barriers they might have mentally, and practise with each other; make friends with those whose first language is Spanish; use apps to engage in speaking exercises because you must first crawl before you walk and you will fall. But if you keeping trying and putting in the effort, in no time you can walk, and then run,” Ruiz-Tapiador said.

Fifth form Spanish teacher at Campion Aldeen Ellis was impressed

“As you know, we are not surrounded by native (Spanish) speakers so, to get an opportunity like this means a lot to the students. They get to hear the language and to attempt to speak it.

“Campion is very privileged, in that, we go out and get what we want. Jason went to the embassies and he presented himself in such a way that they were so impressed and so today we have people from Spain, San Salvador and Cuba, and we’re very grateful for that.”

In addition to Ruiz-Tapiador, the five native speakers at the workshop were Julia Mendoza, administrative officer, Embassy of Spain; Amparo Gonzalez Santos, consular officer, Embassy of Spain; Esmeralda Nunes, Spanish language instructor from San Salvador; and Ania Rodriguez, volunteer from Cuba.

Students of Spanish from the Corporate Area will get an opportunity to practise with them on Wednesday April 5 when the embassy, in partnership with the Spanish-Jamaican Foundation and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information hosts a one-day CSEC partial immersion training session in the Joyce Robinson Hall of the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Library from 9:00 am – 4:00pm.

According to the Caribbean Examinations Council exam timetable, the two weeks from April 17 to 28 are set aside for the oral component of all three foreign language exams — Spanish, French and Portuguese.