Language acquisition in the early years
comprises exposure to and repetition of sounds, intonation, songs, and stories
– all of the things parents provide naturally when raising children in their
native language.
The Lower School Spanish program is a chance to awaken the
receptors in the young student’s brain that are ready and willing to make
contact with and absorb languages. An integral part of our program is gaining
familiarity with and appreciation of Spanish-speaking cultures. To that end, we
invite the students to explore history, literature, music, dance and food of
diverse regions. Each Spanish class meets three times a week for forty minutes,
and the homeroom thematic units are woven into the curriculum. Through Total
Physical Response Storytelling (TPRS) – an approach involving the application
of gestures or movements to the word or words being spoken together with active
engagement with classroom activities, students delight in the exploration of
the Spanish language. In
fifth grade, students are given the opportunity to apply their language skills
through volunteer opportunities at the Fuller Park Head Start program. Here they read to and interact with
children whose primary language is Spanish.
The Middle School program at Blue Oak
School also involves TPRS and the exposure to and exploration of
Spanish-speaking cultures. Students acquire essential tools to
sophisticate their level of communication. Through contextualized exposure to
grammatical concepts, active engagement with relevant texts, and dynamic
conversation, students absorb and own the nuances of the Spanish language. In
so doing, they create vibrant stories and communicate successfully. The middle
school year culminates with a spring project that brings together the student’s
acquired language skills and provides an opportunity to create technology-based
media projects.
Middle School students have a chance to
apply their Spanish-language skills as volunteers in the Reach Out and Read
program at Clinic Ole in Napa. As
volunteers, students read Spanish books to young children at the clinic.