Community Corner

Canton Students Tout Experiences in Foreign Countries

Trips invaluable for learning language, culture or giving back, students say.

Recently, several Canton High School students told the Board of Education that overseas trips were extremely helpful when studying a language or looking to make a difference in the world.

Among those who spoke at a recent board meeting were students who went on February 2012 trips to Span and France and others who took a summer service trip to Ghana.

Salvatore Rubino said a trip to France helped him become more fluent, learn faster, pick up subtle accents and perform better in his studies when he returned.

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It was an excellent experience,” he said, adding that being “immersed” made a huge difference. The trip included visits to the common and the well known, he said.  

“We’ve learned about a lot of these places since 7th grade but being there was a completely different experience,” added fellow senior Caitlin Bentley.

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Seniors Julian Franklin and Kaitlin Cowles reported similar experiences in Spain.

“Learning Spanish in the classroom and then using Spanish in a different country is a completely different learning experience,” Franklin said.

Cowles admitted she struggled at first but quickly became much more fluent. She also said other experiences such as witnesses beautiful architecture were rewarding.

She said witnessing a flamenco dance in Madrid was an incredible sensory experience she never expected.

“It was really intense,” she said.

Also speaking to the board were three students who were part of a service trip to Ghana, Africa.

While there, six students and Be The Change Club Advisor Jen Gembala worked at a day care, helped kids, performed some maintenance on the building and much more. They also had a chance to stay with host families and experience the culture.

“It was a life changing trip for us,” said Leigh-Ana Rossitto. “It was definitely a cultural shock.”

“You had these kids who basically have nothing and they were so happy because they thought they had everything,” added Jillian Casey

The girls said it really helped put things in perspective when they returned home.

Read more about the trip here


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