Spanish I

Instructor: Laura Range, Anna Duncan (Lexingon) // Grade Level: high school // Meets: 3 hours (two 90-minute sessions) per week
At a Glance
  • Total Physical Response Storytelling (TPRS) methodology
  • grammatically, covers present tense, objects, reflexives, preterite
  • regularly assessment through weekly quizzes, tests, participation, and homework

Spanish I, the first year in New Hope's offerings, introduces students to Spanish using Total Physical Response Storytelling. The main emphasis is on vocabulary acquisition. The vocabulary will then be used in the context of easily understood stories that students will act out several times, then draw, tell and write themselves. Units are generally thematic and include generous comprehensible input, so that students become confident in their aural comprehension of the language before being required to produce orally. Grammatically, students will learn and practice the present tense in all points of view, direct and indirect object pronouns, and reflexive verbs. In addition, there will be a brief introduction to the preterit of the past tense. Elementary students will read at least four short novels in the second semester. The four main areas of language learning-listening, speaking, reading and writing-will be assessed regularly through weekly quizzes, tests, class participation and homework.

Nueva Esperanza

The “Nueva Esperanza” (New Hope) chapter of National Spanish Honor Society, or “Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica!” Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (SHH) is an honor society for high school students enrolled in Spanish and/or Portuguese, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP). At present there are over 2,000 national and international chapters.
 
The purpose of the society is to recognize high achievement of high school students in the Spanish and Portuguese languages and to promote a continuing interest in Hispanic and Portuguese studies. For more information (and even and informative video!) visit the SHH website at www.sociedadhonorariahispanica.org.