March 13, 2008 - Members of the community are invited to participate in a project to help Shaker High School’s Spanish V students improve their foreign language skills, while helping them learn more about the immigrant experience of their neighbors.

“Everyone has a story to tell, and we would like to hear your life story, including your memories of life in your country of origin, along with your experiences of adapting to life in the United States,” said Spanish teacher Ann Misir in a letter to the community. “In addition, as you tell your story, we hope to achieve an intergenerational dialogue that will lead to increased understanding of the lives of others.”

Students will work in pairs to research interviewees’ home countries, including their histories and cultures in order to be prepared to ask interesting and appropriate questions during the interview.

The half-hour interviews will be recorded and will be held at Shaker High School in the late afternoon and early evening in early April. Following the interview, students will transcribe the recordings. Copies of the transcripts will be sent to the interviewees as well as to the school’s media center, where the student work will be archived.

All participants, including student interviewers, narrators (interviewees), family and friends will be invited to an Open House, date yet to be determined, to hear, view and learn more about the completed oral history projects.

Please contact Ann Misir at (518) 785-5511, ext. 3697, or e-mail amisir@ncolonie.org by March 25, 2008, to participate in the project.

Read the detailed letter from Ann Misir.