SPANISH

Why do I need to learn Spanish?  This is the question of most students when they find themselves with the opportunity or the obligation to take a Spanish class. Why don’t Hispanics learn English? Why did they come to live in this country if they resist getting used to the American way of life? Those Hispanic people...!

 

For most Americans, Hispanics are strangers who bring spicy food and colorful costumes to their “already defined” American culture, girls with shapely bodies and “macho” workers who like to listen to loud dance music and smile at women.

 

Let me tell you …

According to the US Census Bureau, the estimated Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1st, 2003 is of 39.9 million. This makes people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest race or ethnic minority. Hispanics constitute 13.7 percent of the nation’s total population. This estimate does not include the 3.9 million residents of Puerto Rico, who, of course, speak Spanish. According to the same Census, the projected Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2050 is 102.6 million. Hispanics will constitute 24 percent of the nation’s total population on that date. This means that when you start your professional life, if you do not know some Spanish, you might be in trouble.

 

Now…

What is the Spanish language?   Do you have any idea of the socio-linguistic relations that come together in the Spanish language?  Did you know that the words “astra” in Latin, “estrella” in Spanish and “star” in English, even when they mean the same thing, can each convey a different feeling?  Would you like to know the relationship of the Spanish language with your own language?  Would you like to try to be in the shoes of someone who is learning a different language?  Would you like to know the language of Cervantes?  Are you sure?

 

We are going to work and work seriously, seriamente. To learn a language requires a method, and we are going to be very strict with ours. Through our process of language study, we are going to get to know some of the most important artists, writers, musicians, politicians and philosophers of Hispanic culture. We are going to learn about real life in the Hispanic countries. We are going to talk, listen, write, read and try to put ourselves closer to the Hispanic way of living and thinking.

 

All you need to bring is yourself: your openness and your willingness to learn. You don’t need to bring your fear of making mistakes. All of us make mistakes when we are learning, and the more we err, the more we learn. We are all going to be travelers in the adventure of a new language…Bienvenido!

 

Important Note:  Please do not sign up for Spanish if you are not willing to do your homework carefully and on time on a consistent basis.  You cannot earn credit in Spanish or learn Spanish without doing this, and as it is not required to graduate, you should only take it if you are willing to make this commitment.  While many colleges require you to take foreign language, a grade of no credit in Spanish will not help you get into these colleges.

 

 

SPANISH       I                                                                                                           

 

Ivette Roberts

 

Bienvenidos! This course is designed to introduce students to the acquisition of a new language. Instructional strategies and learning activities will be culturally based and will include asking and answering questions, repeating and listening, singing, drawing, playing games, writing and role playing. Students will also enhance their knowledge and appreciation of the presence and influence of Spanish and Hispanic culture in the United States. Class participation and effort are a vital part of the learning process in the classroom. Credit will be based on homework, attendance and regular participation, quizzes, tests and special projects (minipresentations).  Tutoring is available after school for those who want to increase their proficiency.

 

 

SPANISH        II                                                                                                      

 

Ivette Roberts

This course is designed to reinforce the grammatical concepts attained in previous levels of Spanish. Students will be encouraged to speak Spanish in class with the instructor and classmates. The learning activities will be culturally based. Students will learn songs from current singers from Latin America and Spain. We will compare cultural differences between speaking Spanish countries and The United States. Class participation and effort are a vital part of the learning process in the classroom. Credit will be based on homework, attendance and regular participation, quizzes, tests and special projects (minipresentations).  Tutoring is available after school for those who want to increase their proficiency.

 

SPANISH       III                                                                                                        

Ivette Roberts

In this course, students will improve and reinforce the listening, speaking, reading and writing skills already attained in previous levels of Spanish. However, students will communicate more orally than through writing and written exercises. We will pay close attention to vocabulary enrichment and conversational skills. We will incorporate cultural aspects of the Hispanic culture through songs and movies. A major component of this course is individual student oral participation in Spanish and completion of the homework assignments.  Class participation and effort are a vital part of the learning process in the classroom.  Credit will be based on homework, attendance and regular participation, quizzes, tests and special projects (minipresentations).  Tutoring is available after school for those who want to increase their proficiency.

 

SPANISH       IV/V                                                                                                          

Ivette Roberts

This course is designed to strengthen oral proficiency and composition skills through communicative activities, the review of structures, vocabulary building and writing. Students will have access to authentic sources from textbooks used in accredited schools in Latin America. Students will use creative exercises for guided oral reports and guided written compositions. The class will be solely conducted in Spanish. This is an advanced Spanish class requiring advanced comprehension of the language. Students will also deepen their knowledge of Latin countries, culture, artists, or customs by working on special projects.  We will read and discuss the projects in class.  Class participation and effort are a vital part of the learning process in the classroom. Credit will be based on homework, attendance and regular participation, quizzes, tests and special projects (minipresentations).  Tutoring is available after school for those who want to increase their proficiency in the target language.  If there are any students who wish to take Spanish V, they should sign up for the Spanish IV period and will be given more advanced work.

 

FRENCH

This year we are pleased to be able to offer second year French for students who are continuing from last year’s French 1 or new students who have had the equivalent of French 1. Corina will follow this year’s class through at least French 3.

 

 

FRENCH 2                                                                                                   

 

Corina Best

 

Welcome to French class.

 

Our purpose in this second year of French class is to enable the students to communicate, inform and produce their ideas and knowledge.  The students are going to have two classes per week. The main book we are going to use is called Tandem 1 by C. Bergeron and M. Albero, Edition Didier, starting the 6^th sequence.  We are also going to use other books like Et toi? by Marie–José Lopes, Jean-Thierry Le Bougnec et Guy Lewis, Compétences Expression Écrite 1 by Sylvie Poisson–Guinton, Taxi 1 by  Guy Capelle et Robert Menand et Bien Sûr 1 by Fabienne Gallon.  We are going to review some themes to bring them to where they were before the long vacation.

 

After the review, we are going to start the 6^th sequence, learning how to propose, accept and refuse, agree and disagree, ask and give information  and speak about habits.  We will study the food pyramid, make a Guide to Good Eating and a Healthy Shopping List.

 

Grammar rules, oral and written comprehension, oral and written expression, reading, writing, speaking, singing and acting are strategies we will use almost every day in class.  Attendance, punctuality, note taking, homework and active participation are very important. The students will need pens, notebooks and their student books every day and a French dictionary at home.  Teasing and/or bulling classmates are totally prohibited.

         

    

OTHER LANGUAGES

While it is not possible for School One to offer other languages during school, School One students may take other languages for credit outside of school.  The class/tutor must be appropriately qualified, willing to write a School One evaluation and approved beforehand by the Assistant Head.  Outside classes or tutoring for language credit require at least twenty-five hours of meeting time with additional homework per trimester.  Please contact the Assistant Head with any questions about this beforehand.