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 Spanish-speaking cultures. We invite the students to explore history, literature, music, dance and food of diverse regions. Each grade meets three times a week for forty minutes, except Kindergarten which meets twice a week. This is a FLES (Foreign Language in the Lower School) program wherein the homeroom thematic units are woven into the Spanish curriculum. Through Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS) students apply gestures or view color images of the word or words being introduced. To learn more about TPRS please visit their website by clicking here.
The Middle School program also uses TPRS and the exposure to and exploration of Spanish-speaking cultures. 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. Students in the Middle School are also given the opportunity to apply their language skills through volunteer opportunities with our local Community Health Care Center, Clinic Ole. Through their Reach Out and Read initiative, students read in Spanish to monolingual Spanish speaking young children in the doctor's exam room before or after their appointment.