“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." - Xun Kuang

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Chers parents et élèves / Queridos padres y estudiantes:

Welcome to this years language class! You are continuing a life-long process called second language acquisition. The process can be different, very personal, for every learner and you should make the most of each day in and outside of class. Second language acquisition helps your brain, it gives you the ability to communicate with native speakers of the language for various purposes, and it exposes you to a multitude of inputs. Also, all relevant course materials can be found on this website and Google Classroom.

This is a proficiency based curriculum. Proficiency is the ability to use a language to communicate meaningful information in a spontaneous interaction, and in a manner acceptable and appropriate to native speakers of the language. Proficiency does not mean perfection, nor does it imply limitation of instruction to one level at a time. Performance is what one can do with language in practiced or familiar learning contexts. Performance can serve as a bridge to proficiency. As you receive comprehensible input, you will develop and showcase your language abilities through three modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive and presentational. It is my hope that you will find and enjoy compelling, level-appropriate, reading, listening and viewing materials that are highly meaningful to you.

Instructional Goals

  • What do I want my students to know?

  • What do I want my students to be able to do?

  • With what degree of autonomy?

  • Speak 90% - 100% target language; expect 90% of the target language from my students.

  • Each student will create, learn and explore the French/Spanish language in all of its forms.

Overarching Goal: At the end of year, Please read the course syllabus or click here for a detailed explanation of these respective levels and what students can-do with the language.

Course Themes: (sub-themes are included in each of the following over-arching themes)

  • Personal and Public Identities

  • Families and Communities

  • Beauty and Aesthetics

  • Global Issues and Challenges

  • Contemporary Life

  • Communication and Media

Parents: no one knows your child better than you do. I look forward to working with you. If there is anything in particular you'd like me to know about your student, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. This will be for me eyes only.

All the best,

Jason N. Smith