By JESSICA JONES
Advocate staff
Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School’s Festival Hall will be a tapestry of cultures, languages and traditions on Monday in celebration of International Week.
The school is showcasing multiculturalism and promoting the benefit of learning a second language by creating a bustling International Market Place from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The school has asked about 10 businesses from Red Deer to display their products during the event.
“I don’t think some students really know how multicultural Red Deer actually is,” said Lindsay Thurber Japanese teacher Miriam Irons.
She and her students are going to make fake takoyaki, which if made properly includes frying octopus.
The language students who take either French, Spanish or Japanese, as well as approximately 30 international students, will also be putting up displays highlighting where they come from.
“Sometimes students choose subjects just because they think it is easy but they don’t realize doors will open if you take a second language. Communicating with people is an important skill to have,” Irons said.
Gaylene Mackay, English-as-a-second language program teacher, says the International Market Place gives international students a chance to share their culture.
“Hopefully some of their classmates will be able to learn something and it will make them feel more involved in the school,” she said.
Members of the community are welcome to attend the International Market Place at lunch from 11:30 to 12:15.
For more information, contact Irons at mirons@rdpsd.ab.ca.
jjones@www.reddeeradvocate.com