Length: 1 Semester Grade: 7th-8th Grade Required

Course Description

This course is an introductory language learning course that provides the fundamentals of French or Spanish. We practice utilizing the basics of the language including frequently used vocabulary and grammar, as well as cultural information, through immersive, comprehensible storytelling and conversation. The focus at this level is on language input and understanding the written and spoken word. Students will gradually build the capacity to speak and write.

Essential Questions

• How do we communicate our understanding using words and body language? 

• How can we piece together parts of language to understand a broader message? 

• How can we describe ourselves in Spanish and French? 

• How can we describe objects and characters in Spanish and French? 

Methods

Our language classes are based primarily on the methodology of comprehensible input. Our language curriculum is driven by student ideas and interests. Our priority as instructors is to ensure that the language used in class is both comprehensible and compelling. Over time, students will be exposed to a greater quantity and complexity of target language input . This methodology requires students to interact with the language through listening, reading, writing and speaking the language in scaffolded steps. 

We often introduce cultural content and grammar concepts through critical exploration and inquiry -- providing opportunities for students to examine, ask questions about, notice patterns in, and create meaning out of authentic materials. We harness student perspectives, ideas and opinions to put vocabulary and grammar in personalized contexts. This allows students to feel more closely connected to the language and more likely to remember and use it. 

Finally, in addition to ongoing assessment (both written and oral) our language classes may culminate in projects that give students the opportunity to showcase their learning.

Units

Example Unit (Spanish):  Describing yourself and others

Essential Questions: 

• How do we describe ourselves and others in Spanish?

• How are certain kinds of words different in English and Spanish?

Major Concepts: 

• What are nouns, adjectives, verbs?

• Gender of Nouns

Major Content:

• The Spanish words for "is," "are," "has," and "have"

• Adjectives in Spanish

Unit Assessments:

• Drawings

• Quizzes

• Conversations

• Listening activities

• Skits

Major Texts/Media:

• Songs, videos, photos, drawings

Sample Unit (French): Skit 

Essential Questions: 

• How do we work as a team to tell a story in French?

Major Concepts: 

• Pronunciation and intonation of dialogue

Major Content:

• High - frequency words, phrases, grammatical structures

Unit Assessments:

• Performance and recording

Major Texts:

• Class-generated story