Academics

Middle School : Spanish

Students should graduate from Ring Mountain able to read, write, and converse in Spanish in order to participate in the multilingual, interdependent communities of the twenty-first century.

We set as a priority the ability to use language for purposeful communication, or language proficiency. To develop proficiency, we recommend a sequence of learning that starts in preschool and continues through grade eight and beyond. It also describes an instructional methodology that provides opportunities for students to experience and use Spanish in meaningful ways.

The curriculum moves beyond simply reading and writing the language. It emphasizes active communicative experiences in addition to traditional grammar practice, memorization, and translation. For example, the K-4 student uses language to play games and listen to stories from the culture(s) where Spanish is used; in grades 5-8, students use language to write letters to penpals and explore contributions of culturally diverse groups in the United States.

Culture is a central component of the Spanish. We believe that culture should be integrated in all learning and teaching experiences. For example, by reading literature, newspapers, and magazines that reflects Spanish culture and by exploring customs, cuisine, celebrations, and artistic traditions, students experience Spanish in culturally meaningful contexts. Studying with native speakers and experiencing the culture in which Spanish is used broadens and enriches learning and teaching.

Guidelines for the Spanish Curriculum

1. Spanish is an essential part of all students' education.
2. All students should be able to read, write, and converse in at least one language in addition to English.
3. languages programs should start in Preschool and continue uninterrupted through grade 8 and beyond.
4. The primary goal of the Spanish program is communicative proficiency.
5.  Languages programs should reflect the developmental nature of language acquisition.
6. Languages programs should integrate studying and experiencing the culture(s) in which a language is used.
7. Language discipline connects with all the other disciplines.