World Language Week Unlocks the World

March 1-5, 2010

“World Languages came alive from all the corners of Packer!” said Yongling Lu, Packer’s coordinator of World Languages. An array of greetings from hundreds of students and faculty in over 50 different languages kicked off the week at Monday morning’s Greetings Chapel, which, Ms. Lu said, “exemplified the global connections within the walls of the school. “

A beloved annual tradition, World Language Week 2010 ran from March 1-5. This year’s theme was “Communication is Key; Unlock Your Potential,” as multi-colored paper keys – each with a sentence written by a student in a world language -- adorned the glass wall in the Belle Alenick Baier Atrium.

Thanks to the extra care and preparation of Food Service Manager James Moran and his kitchen staff, students and faculty enjoyed cuisine from a different part of the world each day of the week. During lunch, they were treated to the sounds of a jazz trio and a guzheng, or Chinese zither. Later, crowds of students gathered in the atrium to sing Spanish karaoke and enjoy multi-lingual games and puzzles.

A second Chapel program on Wednesday morning allowed Upper School students who have traveled abroad with Packer over the past two years to share their experiences.

In “Viaggio in Italia, marzo 2009,” twelve Latin students traveled across Italy to visit important sites of Roman history and literature. One of the student presenters recalled, “My father, a native Italian, took one look at our itinerary, and said, ‘You’ll be lucky to get through a fourth of that in nine days.’” But they saw it all.

“One World, One Dream: An Excursion into Chinese Life” was presented by a group that traveled to Beijing and stayed with Chinese families in Shanghai in March 2009. “The kids and families were so accommodating, and they welcomed us into their homes,” a presenter said. “I felt like I was at home myself.”

Interspersed through the presentations were singing performances from Lower and Middle School beginning Chinese students, as well as a group karaoke to the French pop song “Parle à ma main!” or “Talk to the Hand!” by students in level-three French.

Following a two-song set by Packer’s house band, “No Class,” (“Boy from Ipanema” and “Guantanamera”), Head of School Bruce Dennis provided some closing remarks on World Language Week at Packer.

Lauding the cultural literacy and sophistication of Packer’s students, Dr. Dennis said: “It is easy here at Packer to assume that this is the way it is everywhere. But this high level of sophistication is not accessible to everyone in this country, even to those in many other independent schools. We owe tremendous thanks to the work of Ms. Lu and the extraordinary World Language Department.”