This weekend a former student, and friend of my son, was at my house visiting.  She brought a killer artichoke dip and an even more delicious story.   She also gave me permission to share both with you.  :o)  (I’ll post the recipe at the end!)

Kasie graduated two years ago, and was a Spanish student in grades 8 and 9.  It’s been over four years since she has been in a Spanish class.    She is a volunteer for a local Ambulance Corps and responded to a call near her home.   When she arrived, she found the patient already surrounded by local sheriffs, state police, border patrol and EMT’s.    “Do you speak Spanish?”, they asked her.  “Well I took a little in high school, but that was years ago.”  “That’s more than we have, you have to help!”   

It was pandemonium.   The victim was an undocumented worker and had been stabbed in the abdomen.   Panicked by the appearance of so any law officers, the young man was “freaking out completely, “ according to Kacie.   So was Kasie.   The officers were ready for action with weapons ready and surrounding the victim.   The victim was hysterical and Kacie was worried that the situation would escalate and she would be caught in the middle of it.

That didn’t happen.   The credit goes to Kasie, who remained calm and collected on the outside despite her inner panic.   How?  She is an incredible young woman, full of grit and passion and strength.  She was able to talk to the young man, in Spanish, defuse the situation and get the young man the medical attention that he needed.   How?  She opened her mouth and Spanish fell out.  She told me that she didn’t really think she knew what to say, but in the moment, she knew exactly what to say and said it.  She didn’t think about what to say or how to say it.    It was just there.  She related the entire conversation to me and here are some of the phrases that she used to communicate with the patient:

Cálmate.    (Calm down)

Necesitas ayuda.  (You need help)

Quiero ayudarte.  ( I want to help you)

¿Cómo estás?  (How are you)

¿Tienes mucho dolor?   (Do you have a lot of pain?)

¿No comprendo.  (I don’t understand)

Habla más despacio por favor.  (Speak more slowly please)

Vamos al hospital.  (We’re going to the hospital)

Hay un problema con tu…..ombligo.  (There is  a problem with your….belly button)

Necesitas un doctor para el problema.  (You need a doctor for the problem)

Hay sangre.  (There is blood)

Es necesario.  (It’s necessary)

Tienes que escucharme.  (You have to listen to me)

These are the statements that she used in Spanish to me when relating the story.  WITHOUT ERROR!!!!!!!! And under great pressure.

I can tell you that she never once had a thematical unit on illness, injuries or the hospital…only TPRS and other forms of comprehensible input in grades 8 and 9…four years ago.

Nor was Kasie one of those students who soaked up Spanish like a sponge.  She was a hard worker, lots of fun and enjoyed class while she was in it.   But she wasn’t one that downloaded music, changed the sound track on movies or sent text messages to her friends in the language.    She did what she needed to do when she was in class, but her passions and interests were elsewhere outside of class.

That, my friends, is the power of ACQUIRED language.   

The most beautiful part?   She doesn’t even know how phenomenal it was that she was able to use that language when she, and this victim, needed it.    In truth, she was more overwhelmed by the presence of so many armed officers than by her ability to listen to, understand and communicate with the patient.  

And she asked me for a list of phrases that she can keep in the ambulance because now that they know that she “speaks” Spanish, she’s pretty sure that they’ll be asking her for more help of that nature. 

Kudos to this brave young lady!!!  (She’s only 19!)    Thank you to TPRS and all of you who helped us to teach her using this approach.

With love,

Laurie

P.S.  Kasie’s Awesome Artichoke Dip

8 oz of softened cream cheese

1/4 C. mayonnaise

1/4 C. grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 C. grated Romano cheese

1 clove garlic peeled and minced

1/2 t. dried basil

1/4 t. garlic salt

14 oz can of artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1/2 C. frozen spinach, thawed and drained

1/4 C. shredded mozzarella cheese

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. and lightly grease a small baking dish

2. Mix all ingredients except for mozzarella cheese and place in baking dish.

3.  Top with mozzarella cheese.

4.  Bake for 25 minutes or until bubbly and lightly brown.

Enjoy!!