Hola, y bienvenidos a espanol!  

The World Language program in Williamson County is currently in its fifth year.  It began in the fifth grade only, but is currently being offered to all fourth and fifth graders at Oak View weekly.  Studies have shown that learning a second language in childhood is easier, because the brain is still developing.  Children are like sponges, so beginning Spanish in elementary school is a great place to start!

Because the program is only in its fifth year, curriculum and assessment revisions are still being made each school year.  The goal is to follow closely the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language) guidelines and expectations of foreign language learners.  The 5 C’s are stressed-

1.Communication- Teaching students to communicate beyond their native language.

2.Cultures- Enabling students to recognize and accept that which is different.

3.Connections- Enhancing students’ abilities to examine cultures through a language and a perspective other than their own.

4.Comparisons- Developing insight into the nature of language and culture.

5.Communities- Participating in multilingual communities at home and around the world.

Using these five concepts at Oak View, students in the fourth and fifth grades begin listening to and speaking the Spanish language and then eventually writing and reading it.  This is done through music, songs, visuals, stories, games, calendar time, hands-on activities and written practice.  It seems as though there is a song to fit every new unit!  The fifth grade students also tackle Scholastic News in Spanish at least once a month.  At this introductory level of language learning, students are considered beginners, or Novice learners and speakers.  They can give short lists of vocabulary words and can answer and ask simple questions related to everyday topics.  With each unit covered throughout the school year, conversational growth is encouraged.

 

Below are many topics that are covered in the fourth and fifth grade Spanish classes at Oak View:

Greetings

Basic Expressions

Colors and Shapes

Calendar- Days, Months and Date

Weather Expressions

Numbers / Age

Seasons

Classroom Objects

Body Parts

Clothing

Family

Animals-Pets

Home

Food

Cultural Holidays

Alphabet- Spanish Phonics

Masculine/Feminine Agreement

Singular/Plural Agreement

For games and activities in Spanish, check out the following link: www.quia.com