Spanish Intensive Honors Students Bring Hernán Cortés to Trial

As part of their cultural studies of Mexico, students studied the events of the Conquista and researched the different historical figures that took part in this decisive moment of the history of the world. Each student was assigned a role, and this way Montezuma, La Malinche, Pedro de Alvarado, Bartolomé de las Casas, Charles V, or Cuauhtémoc, among others, came to life as they were called one-by-one to the witness stand. Putting their Spanish skills into practice, these protagonists of the conquista had to answer the well-prepared questions of the students who acted as lawyers of the prosecution. The defense managed to present compelling arguments in support and against the actions of Hernán Cortés and his men.

 

The honorable Arielle Algaze ’17, mock trial expert, presided over the court and made sure the rules of evidence and procedure were not violated. On several occasions she needed to use her gavel to regain control of the room when the numerous objections raised by both prosecutors and defendants exasperated the audience.

 

A group of student reporters documented the mock trial, interviewed the witnesses, examined the evidence presented and prepared final reports. Click here to see the trial log in Spanish. Despite the wonderful job done by the defendant team, at the end, the classroom found Hernán Cortés guilty of all the charges brought against him. Students couldn’t justify the massacre and destruction of an entire civilization, even in the name of the advancement of humanity.

 

The benefits of mock trials in schools has been well documented as students become familiar with the legal system and are forced to think critically, work in teams and speak publicly. Having to perform in a mock trial in a second language though, takes this to another level.

Congratulations to all intensive honors Spanish students for a job well done, and thank you to history and social science teacher Blair Overstreet, who provided students with historical context (in Spanish) to understand the social and economic dynamics of the world during that time period. Students appreciated putting the Spanish grammar books aside for a couple of weeks to apply their linguistic skills. World language teacher Daniella Avilés and I couldn't have been prouder of the “fantásticos estudiantes”.

Cortes Trial 2017 from La Jolla Country Day School on Vimeo.