SPANISH
Primary Years Programme (PYP) Spanish Overview
The Spanish Language course is designed for novice learners, with an emphasis on developing basic communication skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) in Spanish. In our classroom, we use games, songs, arts, and interactive activities to make learning feel like an adventure!
We’ll explore topics like greetings, family, the community, and everyday activities, all through fun and engaging activities like role-playing, songs, and hands-on projects. My goal is to help students understand and use simple vocabulary and sentence structures while having fun along the way.
As we move to higher grades, we will continue developing our listening and speaking skills, diving deeper into grammar concepts like verb conjugation, possessive adjectives, and more. Students will also gain cultural awareness through exploration of Hispanic holidays, customs, and traditions, as well as multicultural celebrations.
Course Standards and ObjectivesWe follow the ACTFL World Readiness Standards, which guide our curriculum and assessments. Our primary goal is for students to develop communication skills, cultural awareness, and an appreciation for the Spanish language. We focus on three main areas of communication:
We emphasize language use in real-world situations, and students are encouraged to speak Spanish as much as possible during class. Assessments are varied and ongoing, with many opportunities for students to demonstrate their growth and skills in a low-stakes environment.
Classroom Expectations
The Spanish Language course is designed for novice learners, with an emphasis on developing basic communication skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) in Spanish. In our classroom, we use games, songs, arts, and interactive activities to make learning feel like an adventure!
We’ll explore topics like greetings, family, the community, and everyday activities, all through fun and engaging activities like role-playing, songs, and hands-on projects. My goal is to help students understand and use simple vocabulary and sentence structures while having fun along the way.
As we move to higher grades, we will continue developing our listening and speaking skills, diving deeper into grammar concepts like verb conjugation, possessive adjectives, and more. Students will also gain cultural awareness through exploration of Hispanic holidays, customs, and traditions, as well as multicultural celebrations.
Course Standards and ObjectivesWe follow the ACTFL World Readiness Standards, which guide our curriculum and assessments. Our primary goal is for students to develop communication skills, cultural awareness, and an appreciation for the Spanish language. We focus on three main areas of communication:
- Interpersonal: Speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills
- Interpretive: Listening and reading comprehension
- Presentational: Speaking and writing expression
We emphasize language use in real-world situations, and students are encouraged to speak Spanish as much as possible during class. Assessments are varied and ongoing, with many opportunities for students to demonstrate their growth and skills in a low-stakes environment.
Classroom Expectations
- Speak Spanish as much as possible—let’s practice together!
- Come to class prepared, respectful, and positive.
- Bring your supplies and a happy attitude..
- If you need to use the restroom, please do so during non-instructional time and sign in on the bathroom log for safety.
Middle Years Programme (MYP) Spanish Overview
How We Learn a New Language
I believe that people learn new languages the same way we learned our first language. Our brains don’t learn by memorizing vocabulary words or grammar rules. Instead, we acquire language naturally when we hear or read things and understand them. If someone is speaking to us and we don’t understand, our brain can’t process that language. It doesn’t help us as language learners! In order to acquire language, we have to understand what we’re being told or what we’re reading.
The 90/10 Approach
To immerse students in the target language, I use a 90/10 model in class. This means 90% of the instruction is in Spanish, and only 10% is in English. My job is to make my speech as comprehensible as possible. Comprehensible input is a key part of my teaching philosophy and informs the decisions I make in planning, instruction, and assessment. If a student ever doesn’t understand something I’m saying, I take responsibility. I tell my students that if they don’t understand, it’s because I haven’t done my job in going slow enough or helping them interpret what they’re hearing. Their job is to listen carefully and signal when they’re not understanding.
Understanding is Essential
In Spanish class, it’s really important that students understand everything we’re talking about at all times. Unfortunately, I can’t simply speak to students in Spanish the same way I would speak to a friend, family member, or a native speaker. If I speak too quickly or without checking for understanding, the language becomes just noise. Speaking too fast when students don’t understand can be frustrating and is a highly ineffective practice. That’s why I always check for comprehension and do my best to help students understand what is being said or read.
How I Help You Understand
Here are some of the strategies I use to make sure students understand what’s going on in class:
In Summary
My goal is to help your child learn Spanish in a way that makes sense to them—by focusing on understanding first, and then building from there. Through a language-rich environment and strategies designed to make language learning accessible, students will gradually acquire Spanish in a natural and supportive way.
Looking forward to your guidance!
Best regards,
Profe Ortiz
How We Learn a New Language
I believe that people learn new languages the same way we learned our first language. Our brains don’t learn by memorizing vocabulary words or grammar rules. Instead, we acquire language naturally when we hear or read things and understand them. If someone is speaking to us and we don’t understand, our brain can’t process that language. It doesn’t help us as language learners! In order to acquire language, we have to understand what we’re being told or what we’re reading.
The 90/10 Approach
To immerse students in the target language, I use a 90/10 model in class. This means 90% of the instruction is in Spanish, and only 10% is in English. My job is to make my speech as comprehensible as possible. Comprehensible input is a key part of my teaching philosophy and informs the decisions I make in planning, instruction, and assessment. If a student ever doesn’t understand something I’m saying, I take responsibility. I tell my students that if they don’t understand, it’s because I haven’t done my job in going slow enough or helping them interpret what they’re hearing. Their job is to listen carefully and signal when they’re not understanding.
Understanding is Essential
In Spanish class, it’s really important that students understand everything we’re talking about at all times. Unfortunately, I can’t simply speak to students in Spanish the same way I would speak to a friend, family member, or a native speaker. If I speak too quickly or without checking for understanding, the language becomes just noise. Speaking too fast when students don’t understand can be frustrating and is a highly ineffective practice. That’s why I always check for comprehension and do my best to help students understand what is being said or read.
How I Help You Understand
Here are some of the strategies I use to make sure students understand what’s going on in class:
- Pointing to words on the board
- Using images and visuals
- Highlighting cognates (words that are similar in both languages)
- Using gestures and body language
- Speaking slowly and clearly
- Repeating key phrases
- Reviewing vocabulary and verbs students have already learned
In Summary
My goal is to help your child learn Spanish in a way that makes sense to them—by focusing on understanding first, and then building from there. Through a language-rich environment and strategies designed to make language learning accessible, students will gradually acquire Spanish in a natural and supportive way.
Looking forward to your guidance!
Best regards,
Profe Ortiz
WORLD LANGUAGE TEACHERS
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