MODERN LANGUAGES In our ever-shrinking world and increasingly diverse country, the ability to communicate effectively in a minimum of two languages is essential to responsible global citizenship. The cultural lessons presented at all levels facilitate the development of cross-cultural skills. The use of technology encourages authentic interaction in and out of the classroom experience and provides an increasing independence for student learning. Ultimately, our goal for our foreign language students is to create opportunities for true leadership and responsibility, both personal and global. We encourage and facilitate participation in foreign travel and study-abroad programs, as we believe this is the best way for students to practice their language skills and to test their ability to interact across cultures. Ideally, all students will have enjoyed an international experience prior to graduation.
>>MIDDLE SCHOOL All Middle School students must choose a modern language or Latin (Classics) to study, and they are placed in a level based on their background and language mastery. Placement tests are available to new Form 1 and Form 2 students who have taken the language as a core academic course at their previous school to determine if they place out of the A level course.
Spanish A Spanish A is an introductory course that assumes limited experience with the Spanish language. During the year, students will simultaneously develop speaking, reading, writing and listening skills that will allow them to express ideas accurately and confidently. They will use their new vocabulary and grammar to create authentic skits and dialogues similar to situations they would experience were they to travel to a Hispanic country. Students will be able to greet others, express personal preferences, discuss what they are studying in school, talk about sports, and order foods from typical menus. They will also learn to recognize and manipulate various grammatical structures, including regular verb conjugations in the present tense, expressing negation, articles, adjective agreement, forming questions and basic sentence structures. In addition, through the use of authentic materials, students will be introduced to Hispanic culture throughout the world, and they will use technology, both in the classroom and at home, for an engaging and interactive experience. The course culminates in a fashion show, a simulation designed to incorporate all of the written and oral communication skills developed over the course of the year.
Spanish B Spanish B is the second course in the Spanish sequence. Students continue to develop their speaking, writing, listening, and reading skills in a full immersion environment. They hone their ability to express themselves in increasingly detailed sentences, with special emphasis on communicating clearly in conversation and in writing. Students learn to discuss people, places, leisure activities, body parts, animals, household objects, food, and movies. They are challenged to apply new skills in meaningful scenarios, and learning is student-centered and project-based. Examples of driving questions behind projects include: "How can I create a Facebook profile to represent a Spanish-
Kingswood Oxford’s Course of Study 2020-2021 Page 36 of 70
