• St. Philip School Spanish Classes:

    In the middle school, Spanish classes are full-time classes meeting daily for one period each. I believe in using a total language approach to Spanish instruction since it is a transferral of skills from English to Spanish. Total language instruction covers listening skills, speaking, reading, and writing.

     In 6th grade, students learn the basic survival vocabulary that they will continue to use through middle school and into high school. Survival vocabulary covers the building blocks for the rest of language acquisition, so it must never be forgotten. 6th grade students also learn the Spanish prayers which they will recite throughout middle school. Spanish is taught at this level through songs, chants, games, and activities in addition to an online Spanish textbook with cultural videos. Students at this level also learn about the 21 Spanish speaking countries, their capital cities, and their locations in the world.

    In 7th grade, students begin learning the present tense conjugations of the most common Spanish verbs. Students are taught descriptive adjectives and some specialized vocabulary at this level. There is an emphasis on actually using the language to converse at a basic level and students begin writing original paragraphs in Spanish. Students in 7th grade learn more about the cultures of the 21 Spanish speaking countries.

    8th grade students will continue using the present tense verb conjugations in their writing and speaking. They will also be exposed to the two past tenses in Spanish - the Preterite and the Imperfect - and the future tense. Again, they will use the tenses in writing and speaking exercises in class. In the 8th grade, there is an emphasis on speaking more and using the language conversationally. Students will do in-depth reports on the Spanish speaking countries and share their knowledge with their classmates.

    Students in K-5 receive Spanish insruction one period weekly. This gives them a basic exposure to Spanish through songs, videos, games, and Total Physical Response (TPR.) TPR allows students to hear and comprehend the spoken language and students will often begin using the words and phrases they hear.

    I love Spanish, and my goal is to have the students learn to love the language and culture, too. Learning Spanish will be an asset to them both culturally and in the workplace. It's no longer a question of IF you will use your Spanish, but WHEN.