Submitted by Sue Michiels, Los Angeles, California

Idea posted June 13, 2003

Some of us teach students who are new Hispanic arrivals to this country. When we sing "This is My Country," I have had these students remain silent during the first verse, which mentions "land of my birth" then sing the following translation of the second verse:

Esta es mi patria
Tierra de mi elección
Esta es mi patria
Escucha orgullosa mi canción
Te juro fidelidad América vigorosa
Tu eres mi patria hermosa
Para proteger y adorar.

All students then sing the second verse in English. Many of the Hispanic parents do not understand English, and seem to like the fact the students sing in Spanish and English.