Internationalisation is increasingly fundamental in contemporary education. In August 2024, 2nd year Baccalaureate students from Colegio Marista Medianeira participated in an immersion trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where they were able to face the challenges and enjoy the benefits of communicating in a different language, as well as engaging with a new culture. During the trip, the students visited the Colegio Champagnat in Buenos Aires and interacted with other students and educators, which provided a rich cultural and linguistic exchange, especially in English. This experience broadened their cultural horizons and highlighted the importance of socio-emotional learning.
For many pupils, the trip to Buenos Aires represented a first significant contact with the use of another language outsidethe school environment. The need to communicate in Spanish in everyday situations, such as ordering food, asking for directions or interacting with locals, put their language skills to the test and forced them out of their comfort zone.
In addition to language, the students were confronted with cultural differences that further enriched their experience. The daily routine in Buenos Aires, for example, provided a new perspective on eating habits, autonomy and financial management.
“The trip was a great cultural and linguistic immersion. It is very interesting to realise how important it is to speak other languages nowadays, and how it opens so many doors. In Buenos Aires, we spoke Spanish, English and sometimes Portuguese. But when we were talking to teenagers our age at Champagnat School, we only spoke English. Those who were there and didn’t know how to speak English needed a little help to communicate. Another thing I noticed is that their accent is very different from ours, which makes things a bit difficult. But in the end, we always understood each other, because English is really a universal language, and just by knowing how to speak English, we managed to make friends there, and now we have international friends! In other words, knowing how to speak other languages provides new friendships, study opportunities and many other things. It was wonderful, a great sense of independence to be able to manage on my own in another country because I know how to speak another language”, said student Laura Valentini.
This practical experience helped students develop financial management skills, for example, managing a limited budget for daily expenses. The experience of managing their own expenses in a different currency was also a valuable learning experience that required planning and conscious decision-making. One of the biggest lessons from this trip was the development of empathy and respect for diversity. Living with another culture and observing local habits and customs helped students to understand and appreciate cultural differences.
For student João Luiz Alabora, the diversity experiences in Argentina were very broad. “In general, I can say that there are some different cultures, as we saw in Chinatown and in the Japanese Garden, but you don’t see a cultural diversity of ethnicities, for example. The biggest difference I saw was the distinction between the noble and the humble neighbourhoods, and the beauty of the city of Buenos Aires, which mixes a classic and modern architectural style”.
As for the food, student Lucas Costi tells us a bit about what it was like: “All the meals were very varied. I’m used to a specific type of seasoning in our country, but there all the meals, both dinners and lunches, are different, with elements of the local culture very present. The biggest differences for me were the meats, which are very good and tender. I was also surprised by the number of pasta options in the restaurants, along with the sauces. There were also vegetables, fruits and greens, such as juicy lettuces and very tasty tomatoes”.
Student Luiz Antônio Detoni also talks about the cultural aspects of the experience. “On our trip, we visited several touristic and characteristic places in the city, such as monuments in honour of important people for the country, like the tomb of General San Martín, located inside the Cathedral, next to the Casa Rosada, where the Argentinean President works. It was a great learning trip and we were able to realise all the historical construction of the city behind the monuments and structures”.
“The immersion experience among the Marist schools in Buenos Aires provided the students of Colegio Marista Medianeira with valuable learning that transcends traditional academic content. These experiences reinforce the school’s commitment to a holistic education, preparing students to become global citizens, capable of successfully navigating a diverse and interconnected world“, said the school’s Internationalisation Advisor, Juceliane Faciolli.
For the school’s Principal, Cheila Milczarek, who accompanied the students on the trip, this was another moment of preparation for the world. “Hopefully there will be more experiences like this one, which will bring deep and meaningful learning to all students. By facing linguistic and cultural challenges, they not only improved their communication skills, but also developed key socio-emotional competencies, such as empathy, autonomy and financial management”, she concluded.
Juceliane Faciolli – Internationalisation Advisor Marista Medianeira College
If you’d like to experience something like this, join our INTERNATIONALISATION group and get in touch with other Marist schools.