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By Corrina M. Jackson

Students at East Tennessee State University are stepping out of the classroom as "cultural ambassadors" for the Spanish language in local elementary schools.

They show young children a video and do other activities from the Amigos Video Series, a program developed by the University of Tennessee to introduce younger children to the Spanish language and culture.

The Language and Culture Resource Center at ETSU has implemented the program in area schools since 1998.

“We use that video series and curriculum guide and implement it in the local school systems,” said Jorja Cummings, service learning coordinator for the program.

"Amigos" is available to all area elementary schools. It serves grades K – 2. Volunteers show a video to young students and then go over a few activities. The videos teach such things as foods, games, and basic words in Spanish. The videos are each 15 minutes long.

“Certain schools really take to the Amigos program,” Cummings said.

ETSU's student volunteers are required to complete a six-hour minimum, which takes 12 weeks. Volunteers must sign up for this program and begin the sessions by the third week of ETSU classes or they cannot participate.

Taylor Hartley, a junior public relations major at ETSU, is a volunteer at Fairmont Elementary School in Johnson City.

"I started teaching the Amigos program last fall," she said.

Hartley said the program is a great way to introduce another language and culture to young students. She believes an education in foreign languages would benefit everyone.

“It is important to start language education early," she said. "I really wished I had started with more in-depth study of language earlier so I wouldn’t be struggling to become fluent now.”

Amanda Marsh, a freshman communications major, began volunteering in her first semester at ETSU. She worked with students from Jackson Elementary School in Kingsport.

“The students really do well with the program and really seem to enjoy it,” she said.