The language program at Oak Hill follows the philosophy that learning a second language and having an understanding of other cultures is basic to children’s education. The Spanish teachers at Oak Hill are native speakers who teach Spanish based on the best features of bilingual education and the language immersion programs.
Students develop the ability to speak, read and write in Spanish. Knowledge learned through one language paves the way for knowledge acquisition in the second language. Students who learn content in one language are expected to demonstrate content knowledge in the second language once they acquire the language skills to express that knowledge.
The school has a commitment to the intellectual development of self-reliant, responsible, creative and compassionate children. The arts in our foreign language program provide many opportunities for involvement outside of the regular school day. Parents are involved in planning events such as Día de Los Muertos, Las Posadas, the Mexican Exchange Program, the Equinox Environmental Conference and the Cinco de Mayo Celebration.
Goals
Our goal is to make foreign language available to all Oak Hill students because language is most easily learned in early years and mastery of a language requires a minimum of seven to eight years of intensive study. Foreign language study, as a discipline, includes two primary goals, a) the acquisition and mastery of four basic language skills in the target language: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and (b) understanding, through the medium of language, the complex cultural heritage which the target language represents. Expanded communication skills in in the target language increase the student’s ability to relate effectively with others by understanding the values and traditions of the people who speak the target language.
Skills
First year students learn to use the foreign language at a basic level to express themselves and communicate with others in and outside of classroom. They learn to read and write basic structures.
Continuity in foreign language is very important, and Spanish II is a vital link to increased understanding. The Spanish II student develops the ability to express him/herself in writing and s/he continues to broaden her/his reading skills. During Spanish II, students acquire a feeling for the language, and develop a better understanding of the history, customs and culture of the lands and peoples whose language they are experiencing.
In Spanish III there is an ongoing review and refinement of grammar. The student continues to develop reading skills with a variety of reading selections. He/she also has the opportunity to express himself/herself through extemporaneous speaking and original oral and written compostions. Students increase their ability to use the language in and outside of the classroom and are encouraged to participate in Oak Hill’s exchange program to Guanajuato, Mexico.
Spanish IV/AP Spanish Language course is intended to be the equivalent of a third-year college course in advanced Spanish compostition and conversation. The course objectives are to help students:
- Comprehend formal and informal spoken Spanish;
- Acquire vocabulary and a grasp of structure to allow the easy, accurate reading of newspaper and magazine articles, as well as of modern literature in Spanish;
- Compose expository passages
- Express ideas orally with accuracy and fluency
Spanish V/AP Spanish Literature course, when offered, is intended to be the equivalent of a third year college Introduction to Spanish Literature course, covering selected works from the literatures of Spain and Spanish America.
The goals of this course are to prepare students to:
- Understand lectures in Spanish and to participate actively in discussions on literary topics in Spanish;
- Do a close reading of literary texts of all genres in Spanish; and
- Analyze critically the form and content of literary works (including poetry) orally and in writing using appropriate terminology.
The Spanish Literature AP course follows the prescribed curriculum of the Advanced Placement Program. The 2011-2012 exam emphasizes an in-depth study of Spanish literature which covers the literary movements from the medieval times to the XX century. It includes novels, short stories, theatre and poetry. We will do a fast overview of the history of different periods and then do an in-depth study of the works required on the AP Spanish literature reading list.