World Languages

PK, TK

PK and TK Spanish introduces students to Spanish and Spanish culture. Students progress through 10 vocabulary sets as they learn to respond orally to simple phrases and questions in the target language. Through warm-up activities, listening to stories, playing games, singing songs, responding to listening activities, and performing skits, students interact with the teacher and each other by using Spanish to communicate. Students are introduced to holidays and traditions from Spanish-speaking countries.

 

Kindergarten

Kindergarten Spanish leverages students’ interest and confidence through repetitive practice speaking and listening to Spanish. Basic communication in Spanish is an ongoing part of classroom activities. Students repeat the 10 initial vocabulary sets introduced in pre-k, with an emphasis on responding in complete sentences. By answering warm-up questions, listening to stories, playing games, singing songs, responding to listening activities, and performing skits, students interact with the teacher and each other using the target language to communicate. Students continue to be introduced to holidays and traditions from Spanish-speaking countries, and they dive deeply into Christmas traditions, legends, and food through project-based learning.

 

1st Grade

First grade Spanish builds students’ confidence with speaking and listening and introduces beginning reading and writing skills. Students read and write simple words and phrases while responding orally to simple phrases and questions in Spanish. By answering warm-up questions, listening to stories, playing games, singing songs, responding to listening activities, completing written work, students interact with their teacher and each other using the target language to communicate. Project-based units round out the curriculum.

 

2nd Grade

In second grade Spanish, students gain confidence in their speaking and listening abilities while further developing their reading and writing skills. Students read and write simple phrases while responding orally to phrases and questions in the target language. By answering warm-up questions, listening to stories, playing games, singing songs, responding to listening activities, and completing written work, students interact with the teacher and each other using the target language to communicate. Project-based units round out the curriculum.

 

3rd Grade

In third grade Spanish, students continue to build their reading, writing, and speaking skills with simple sentences while responding orally to phrases and questions. At this level, students are beginning to describe themselves and objects with appropriate detail. By answering warm-up questions, listening to stories, playing games, singing songs, responding to listening activities, following commands, and completing written work, students interact with the teacher and each other using the target language to communicate. Project-based units round out the curriculum.

 

4th Grade

In fourth grade Spanish, students begin to read, write, and speak complex sentences while responding orally to phrases and questions. At this level, students use more descriptive and detailed language to describe themselves and their environment with appropriate detail. By answering warm-up questions, listening to stories, playing games, singing songs, responding to listening activities, following commands, and completing written work, students interact with the teacher and each other using the target language to communicate. Students also begin to put sentences together to form basic, simple paragraphs in Spanish. Conversations between students, peers, and teacher become more interactive, lengthy, and involved as they delve into project-based learning.

 

5th Grade

After having studied Spanish throughout Lower School, fifth graders rotate between German, French, and Spanish classes, studying each language for one quarter. Computational Thinking rounds out the fourth of four quarters. The curriculum in each fifth grade world language class strives to enable students to acquire and convey basic information as a traveler. Students engage in a dialogue in the target language, incorporating greetings, and exchange information about names, spelling of names, addresses, and telephone numbers. Students also study the target countries, particularly their geography and currency. As part of the currency study, students learn how to count, readying them to master the art of telling time correctly. In May of the fifth grade year, students select which one of the three world languages they will study through eighth grade.

 

6th Grade

French
Sixth grade French introduces basic vocabulary associated with self-introduction, greetings, family members, counting, colors, basic food and telling time. Proper pronunciation is modeled and refined. The grammar focuses on recognition of gender and proper part of the speech. Cultural traditions are explored through cooking and skits.

German
Sixth grade German equally addresses listening comprehension, written skills, and oral skills. The curriculum includes: an introduction to Germany and the German culture; greeting and saying farewell; introducing oneself and someone else; numbers and telephone numbers; asking where someone is from; phrasing a question; family members, time (normal and 24-hour); the days and the months; coordinating nouns with their correct definite articles; reading and discussing a first reading selection.

Spanish
Sixth grade Spanish students further develop their ability to speak, listen and write in the target language. Students learn the infinitive verbs ending in ar, er and ir; expressing agreement or disagreement; the gender and number of the nouns; and adjective-noun agreement. They learn how to conjugate regular verbs in present tense. They start using the verbs ser and estar in expressions.

 

7th Grade

French
Seventh grade French develops basic understanding of grammar and vocabulary. Greater detail and competency are developed. The course explores the vocabulary associated with school and classroom, describing people, objects, life in the city and home interiors. Grammar includes learning the four main irregular verbs être, avoir, faire and aller. Regular –er verbs in the present tense. A more in-depth study of adjectives and prepositions is pursued. Cultural traditions are explored through skits, projects, and a field trip.

German
Seventh grade German equally addresses listening comprehension, written skills, and oral skills. The curriculum includes: reviewing the sixth-grade curriculum; asking and telling what someone is doing; talking about interests, likes and dislikes; talking about school; sequencing events properly; weather, time increments; countries of Europe, languages; asking where someone is from and giving the same information; Germany and German culture.

Spanish
In seventh grade Spanish students begin to develop complex communication skills. The students learn how to use a variety of irregular verbs and stem-changing verbs. The verbs ser and estar receive particular emphasis, and students learn to write compositions using both properly.

 

8th Grade

French
Eighth grade French extends the students’ vocabulary and grammar material. More independent work in all areas of the language is encouraged. The students explore the vocabulary associated with clothing, holidays, sports and leisure time and food. The grammar includes learning all three verbs groups (-er verbs, -ir verbs, re-verbs) in the present tense. Past and anticipation action are also explored. Reflexive verbs are introduced. All forms of adjectives are taught. Cultural comparisons and investigations are also covered through skits, projects, and a field trip.

German
Eighth grade German equally addresses listening comprehension, written skills, and oral skills. The curriculum includes: reviewing the sixth- and seventh-grade curricula; choosing from a menu and ordering at a café or restaurant; expressing likes and dislikes; making requests and giving advice; exploring German cuisine—foods, eating establishments, beverages, ice cream flavors; handling modals, future tense and negation; asking about prices, describing and choosing clothing; talking about a department store; writing a letter or a card; talking about birthday presents, and exploring the most important celebrations of life events in German culture.

Spanish
In eighth grade Spanish students write, speak and understand more complex Spanish. They learn affirmative tú commands, the present progressive tense, a great variety of irregular and stem-changing verbs direct object pronouns and indirect object pronouns. They learn how to conjugate regular verbs in past tense and how to use this in conjunction with the present tense.