Spanish Program Language Proficiency and Cultural Awareness

The Spanish program at St. Michael’s strives to meet the National Standards for Foreign Language Education, established by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreigh Languages (ACTFL). The National Standards emphasize students’ abilities to communicate in three ‘modes’: interpretive (reading and listening comprehension), interpersonal (conversational) and presentational (public speaking).

Beginning in the fourth grade, St. Michael’s students approach Spanish with these goals in mind. Fourth and fifth graders meet once a week and learn basic vocabulary and phrases that allow them to develop communication skills. In the Middle School, students study Spanish twice a week in sixth grade, three times a week in seventh grade and four times a week in eighth grade. By the end of their Spanish studies at St. Michael’s, most students have earned a high school credit in Spanish 1. Many are prepared to begin Spanish 2 at the honors level. More importantly, they have learned to express themselves in Spanish.

In addition to communication, the National Standards emphasize cultural awareness. Each year, St. Michael’s Spanish students learn about the geography and culture of a Hispanic region or country, including Central America, the Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay), Spain, Mexico and the Andean-Amazon countries (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia).