Olympia Spanish Classes Break Language Barriers

By OHS Torch reporter, Tristan Davis

Olympia’s Spanish program has been very successful as there has always been a full program every year. Olympia provides five Spanish classes for students to take: Spanish 1, 2, 3, 4, and AP Spanish for students that want to upgrade their knowledge in Spanish.

Mrs. Cahill and Mr. Hiero currently teach Olympia’s Spanish courses. Mrs. Cahill, who taught classes in Phoenix, Arizona for 4 years, now has taught at Olympia for 9 years. Mrs. Cahill was also Olympia’s cheerleading coach for 8 years.

Mr. Hiero has taught Spanish classes for 37 years, in between 4 different schools, with the last 32 years at Olympia. Hiero has also taught math, science, and French too--all of that being backed up with a M.A. in foreign languages from ISU.

Many Spanish related projects are conducted within the 5 classes. For example, students in the classes will take part in recipes projects, a family tree project, and a cooking project where they will create a Spanish heritage treat, frigo plantains.

Within the class, students are taught the common form of Spanish, U.S. and Mexico Spanish which can basically be used worldwide.

Field trips have not been a common thing in the past for Olympia’s Spanish class, but Mrs. Cahill said, “I would like for my Spanish class to visit a Spanish based museum or Mexican restaurant to experience the heritage.”

Previous students that have taken a Spanish classes under the teaching of Mr. Hiero and Mrs. Cahill all agreed upon that their knowledge in Spanish has excelled . Olympia Junior, Austin Wise said, “I learned a lot in Spanish, it taught me a lot.”

Spanish classes at Olympia are open both semesters and are always good for credits. Learning a different language has never hurt anyone and it will definitely open up language barriers.