by Jon Shepherd, Spanish Teacher, Gleason & Greenfield High Schools
This fall, students from Gleason and Greenfield High Schools earned college credit through Bethel University’s Dual Enrollment Program while studying Maya history, culture, and the Spanish language. Their coursework came to life when they traveled to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula with Global Citizen Adventure Corps and Etnica Travel, immersing themselves in the culture they had been studying for months.
After spending a week in Mexico, I was reminded once again why learning a foreign language is one of the most valuable skills we can ever develop. Whether you’re ordering street tacos in Mérida, chatting with a local guide at Ek Balam, or simply trying to understand a sign in Spanish, language is the bridge that turns travel into connection.
It sharpens your mind.
Research shows that learning another language improves memory, concentration, and even protects against cognitive decline later in life. In the classroom, I’ve seen students become more attentive and creative thinkers as they work through the logic and rhythm of Spanish. When we were in Mexico, I watched them apply that mental flexibility in real time – decoding menus, asking directions, and laughing through small mistakes that turned into big moments of learning.
It opens doors for your future.
In today’s economy, bilingualism is a major advantage. It increases employability, earning potential, and the ability to work across cultures. Whether our students go into healthcare, business, education, or engineering, the ability to communicate in more than one language sets them apart. The world needs people who can connect, not just compete.
It deepens cultural understanding.
Perhaps the most rewarding reason to learn a foreign language is how it transforms the way we see others, and ourselves. Speaking Spanish in Mexico gave our group access to real conversations, authentic hospitality, and stories that don’t appear in textbooks. Language allows us to see the world through another lens, fostering empathy and appreciation for the beauty of diverse cultures.
Programs like Bethel’s Dual Enrollment Global Studies make these lessons real. Students don’t just study language and culture—they live them. And with partners like Global Citizen Adventure Corps, the world opens wider than ever before, offering transformative experiences to students who might never have had the chance to see it for themselves.