Spanish

The Spanish program at Friends School Haverford is introduced at the very earliest level in the Preschool and continues through 6th grade.  It is designed to teach basic language skills necessary to communicate in Spanish and to establish a strong foundation for further study.  The curriculum also includes exposure to the cultures of Spain and Latin America to foster an interest and appreciation of these countries and their people.  The program strives to prepare students to utilize their language skills actively, both in this country and when traveling in Spanish speaking countries.

In the pre-primary grades: The classroom teachers intersperse simple phrases and words in Spanish with their regular curriculum. Lunchtime provides additional opportunity to incorporate new language skills in a more sociable environment.

Grades 1 – 6: These grades study Spanish as a separate class. Grades one and two study Spanish once a week and grades three through six meet twice a week. The curriculum for these grades reflects the national standards that have been outlined by ACTFL, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. In it, the Five C’s of Foreign Language Study are stressed:  communication, culture, connections, comparisons and communities.  A multi-sensory approach is used, which allows for a variety of learning styles plus varying levels of competency.  Material is presented in a realistic, contextualized format to create a more meaningful and authentic Spanish language experience.  A spiraling approach helps students review and reinforce previously learned concepts.  Listening and speaking skills are stressed initially, followed by reading and writing, as additional tools in the communication process.  Students develop their skill level through the use of movement, games, songs, art, stories, dialogue and role-playing.  Children work with authentic Spanish material whenever possible to provide a more realistic language experience.

The sixth grade trip to Costa Rica is a highlight of the Spanish language program at Friends School Haverford.  Students take their Spanish language studies beyond the classroom and travel to a cloud-forest community in the San Luis valley outside of the capital city of San José.  The trip reaches across the curriculum and combines Spanish, science, social studies and service learning as students spend time with the children of Los Altos school and visit a coffee plantation.  It is a rich opportunity for language and cultural exchange.