Spanish
Our goal is for each student to achieve proficiency in Spanish, as well as an understanding of another culture and some experience with its literature, through the use of music, stories, drawings and charades, artwork, film, novels and newspaper articles.
Dana Buck
Spanish Teacher
University of Oregon, BA
Portland State University
Students in grades K-6 spend one class period a week immersed in conversational usage through the TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling) method, which allows them to experience the language rather than learn about it in English. The goals are to develop an appreciation of culture and history of Spanish-speaking countries and to gain basic literacy skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) in Spanish through exposure to the language in contextualized situations.
Sixth graders have one class period a week through the year plus a second period for one trimester; seventh graders also have a trimester of instruction. Eighth graders have Spanish four periods a week. The focus in all levels is to drench students in the language so they can acquire it in as natural a process as is possible in a classroom setting. Grammar, vocabulary, reading and writing are included in larger amounts as students gain familiarity and confidence with speaking.