(Having the chance to travel abroad) says that Bridgewater cares. They want students to succeed and have all of these valuable experiences. It opens up so many opportunities.
After traveling to the Dominican Republic on a study tour, secondary education and Spanish major Megan Lenza, ’25, came home with more than a new worldview. She also found inspiration for an engaging project for her future students.
“It’s so different from here and those students were so excited to learn and meet everyone,” Lenza said of teaching English at a high school in the Friusa section of Punta Cana that lacks resources commonly found in American classrooms. “I knew I wanted to try to find a way to continue working with that school.”
Now a Spanish educator at Bourne High School, Lenza developed a letter-writing exchange between her students and their peers at Liceo Vetilio Alfrau Durán High School. The American students wrote letters in Spanish and the Dominican students responded in English.
Students learned about each other’s cultures while practicing communicating in a foreign language. They wrote about their classes, leisure activities and favorite television shows, among other topics.
“This is something I would hope to do year after year,” Lenza said. “It was a unique experience. We were so excited to get letters back and read the responses.”
Lenza’s BSU professors are not surprised by her commitment to international collaboration.
“Megan is an example of a BSU student who was impacted by something she’s done and wants to take it further,” said Dr. Sarah Thomas, a secondary education professor who helps coordinate the BSU-Dominican Republic partnership “She sees the importance of making those connections.”
College of Education and Health Sciences staff member Beth Gracia, who frequently travels to the Dominican Republic, forged the initial connection. The first group of students traveled in 2019. Students have brought books to give to school while the university has donated projectors, laptops and other equipment.
Students learn to embrace other cultures and teach diverse groups of students while broadening their horizons beyond their corner of the world – skills that their professors said will be invaluable throughout their careers as educators.
“Even though it’s a short time, they build relationships with the school and have a lot of fun and learn a lot,” said Dr. Emily Spitzman, an associate professor of TESOL and a coordinator of the partnership. “They talk about how much they miss the students after they leave.”
Lenza is grateful for the opportunity to travel somewhere she may have never otherwise been while gaining new insights into her profession.
“I think it says that Bridgewater cares. They want students to succeed and have all of these valuable experiences,” she said. “It opens up so many opportunities.”
Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.