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In addition, the Escuela de Juanita provides a community service summer enrichment program to Mexican children from disadvantaged local families. There is an outdoor play based activity area at the Casa Mañana (which is where the group is lodged). This supervised play activity area gives the program’s children an opportunity to mix with Mexican children so that they can learn from each other. With much closer links between nations of the world and in particular, Mexico, children will face a unique set of challenges and opportunities. It is beneficial to prepare them for this future with the skills necessary as early as possible. This experience also helps to challenge stereotypes that all too often exist. It is an opportunity to create new friendships with the warm and friendly local community. Their smiles are broad even though they have very little. “In order to learn a second language, children
must be engaged in environments that provide them with a variety of circumstances
in which they can use their language” (De Houwer, 1999). |