Spanish

Spanish is increasingly a part of our students' experience at Greene Street Friends. They have Spanish two times per week and are graded on their progress. They have access to multiple resources, with the back bone being the Avancemos I, 2013 edition, textbook.  Avancemos means “Let’s achieve!” and that is what we are looking to do, achieve proficiency in Spanish. Retention of the language is more of an expectation, and students develop solid oral and written communication skills in 5th grade. To prepare and grow, students have access to practice on their own online with video, flashcards, online textbook, conjugation practice, music, culture, and more.

Participation is key, and students dive in right from the beginning! The immersion model encourages students to take risks, to retain the language, and to use it in real life contexts. This is true outside of the class as well, and students are given credit for making attempts at connections to Spanish beyond the classroom walls.

Students in 5th grade participate in the Peace Corps’ World Wise Schools, which provides tools to bring Peace Corps volunteers and their experiences into the classroom.  

Students in 6th grade continue to utilize the Avancemos I, 2013 edition, textbook and ancillary online materials.  As well, students are exposed to children’s literature, and the studies of culture, current events, history, music, art and geography.  Like 5th graders, 6th graders also communicate with a Peace Corps volunteer through the World Wise schools program.

The year to travel to Costa Rica is finally here! It’s excellent timing, as the Spanish program intensifies this year as well, with students receiving Spanish instruction four times per week. We strive toward increased communicative proficiency this year, so that students are comfortable interacting with native speakers in a Latin American culture. We match our students with their Costa Rican partners in the fall, and some of the curriculum prepares us to communicate and live successfully in this incredible country. The 7th graders have this amazing, capstone experience in the spring. What an opportunity!

We increasingly function solely in Spanish in class, and students have lots of resources at home at their finger tips to heighten their proficiency. By the end of 7th grade, our goal is for students to speak at a Intermediate-low level and write at a Intermediate-mid level (according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages proficiency guidelines).

The visit to Costa Rica in 7th grade is a life changing experience.  And now students are ready to take Spanish into other areas of their lives. In addition to hosting their Costa Rican partners in the fall, students get to know the Latin/Spanish "scene" in Philadelphia and around the world.

Students continue to meet four times per week, and finish the Avancemos I textbook. More authentic materials such as podcasts, video, current events, and films  are integrated into the curriculum.  By spring, impromptu conversations between two students average more than five minutes. Individual and group presentations have each student speaking at least five minutes as well.

By the end of 8th grade, our goal is for students to speak at a Intermediate-mid level and write at an Intermediate-high level (according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages proficiency guidelines).