Spanish
Silvia Kurlat Ares
Upper School World Language Department Chair, Middle School DEIJ Coordinator
The World Languages Department offers Spanish as an annual, academic elective in Middle School in grades 6th to 8th. The program is designed in line with ACTFL recommendations and standards for second language acquisition, and hence we encourage students to set their own goals and reflect on their progress in using languages for enjoyment, enrichment, and advancement. The Department emphasizes the five “C” goal areas: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities by stressing speaking, writing, listening, and reading inside and outside the classroom.
Core Skills
- To read, speak, read and write in the present, future and past tenses.
- To become familiar with the cultures and customs of the Hispanic World.
- To develop insights into their own language and culture
- To use their Spanish language skills beyond the classroom walls.
- To access and reinforce concepts already learned in other classes.
Themes of the Curriculum
6th Grade: Identity - If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
What shapes identity? The use of the present tense and the immediate future to talk about daily life, hobbies, family. Students will watch movies relevant to topics discussed in class.
7th Grade: Community - Who are we?
What shapes my community and my environment? The class continues with the present tense, and introduces the past tenses. Students are able to talk about: Social activities, City/Country Life, Technology, and Art. Students will watch movies relevant to topics discussed in class.
8th Grade: Action - What do we do?
How do you express past situations using the past? How do you talk about and ask for what you need? Students will be able to narrate in the past tense about events and activities; people, places and things; and will watch and discuss a movie.