Rye Country Day was delighted to introduce Language Exchange Programs during the 2024-25 school year to allow Upper School students the opportunity to deepen their language skills and gain a more robust understanding of foreign practices and cultures. The program’s destination countries—Spain, France, and China—match with the RCDS Upper School modern language offerings.

In June, a cohort of 20 RCDS students traveled to Barcelona, Spain for a 12-day visit. The Upper Schoolers were thrilled to reconnect with their Spanish peers from the Oak House School, who had previously visited Rye Country Day a few months earlier in April. 

The language exchange participants enjoyed visiting the sites of Barcelona and experiencing the Catalan culture. Some of their activities included: a scavenger hunt through the Gothic Quarter; a tapas cooking class; hiking along La Carretera de la Aigües to take in stunning views of the city; shopping on Passeig de Gràcia and La Rambla; day trip to the coastal town of Sitges; viewing the exhibits at the CosmoCaixa science museum; and admiring the unique Gaudi architecture of Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera, and Casa Batlló. 

A special highlight of the exchange program was the time spent at the Oak House School. The RCDS students attended Math, English, Art, and Science classes, alongside their Spanish peers, and they deepened their friendships while playing basketball and socializing during break times. Experiencing life as a high school student in Barcelona was eye-opening, and the RCDS cohort reflected on the differences with Spanish teaching styles and student expectations at Oak House. On their last weekend, the 20 Upper Schoolers also had the opportunity to stay with host families, which allowed the students deeper insight into life in Spain. 

Following their return home, the RCDS students are eager to maintain their friendships with their counterparts in Barcelona, and the School looks forward to another successful exchange program next year!