ons, starting in PK (age 3) through 12th grade, with special focus on dev=
eloping high levels of language fluency. Our Spanish program has been wor=
king as it is now for the last nine
years. Most of our 9th graders are placed in Level 3 Spanish, so we are n=
ow offering more upper level/advanced courses. Our Chinese program starte=
d last year, and it is growing. Our French and Latin programs are slowly =
decreasing, especially in the upper
school. The keys of our program are continuity, language immersion, and t=
he latest second language acquisition teaching techniques, which involves=
continuous professional development for all FL teachers.
Currently, we have Spanish and Chinese programs starting in Early Childho=
od (3-5 year old) with 15 or 30 min sessions every day for Spanish and 15=
minutes twice a week for Chinese. In Early Childhood the Spanish and Chi=
nese curriculum is linked to the
grade's weekly themes.
In Lower School (grades 1-4) students have Spanish for 30 minutes every o=
ther day; the Spanish program reinforces the Science curriculum. Students=
also are exposed to Chinese, once a week for 30 minutes. This is an "exp=
loratory program" that concentrates
on exposure to sounds, characters, basic vocabulary, beginning conversati=
on, and cultural enrichment.
In Middle School (Grades 5th and 6th) students continue with "Exploratory=
Chinese," as cultural enrichment and beginning language exposure for 30 =
minutes every other week. Students also start Spanish 1A and 1B, as forma=
l Spanish instruction. In 7th grade
students may continue with Spanish IIA and IIB for 7th and 8th, or change=
to Chinese (1A and 1B) as their language of choice. There is when they s=
tart formal instruction for Chinese. Latin is required for all 7th and 8t=
h grade students as they learn
about Roman culture, vocabulary and language structures.
=20
Once in Upper School, students have the option to continue with their lan=
guage of choice, change to Latin (level 2), or add a second language. Mos=
t students continue with the language of choice, all the way to their sen=
ior year, and many add a second
language. We are currently offering up to level 6 in Spanish (AP Spanish =
Literature), level 5 in French (AP Language), level 4 in Latin (AP Virgil=
) and we expect to offer up to level 5 in Chinese (AP Chinese Language an=
d Culture) as classes progress.
If you need information about starting or changing a FL program, I would =
suggest the ACTFL website. You can find the latest research on FL teachin=
g and learning. Here is the page about designing a program.
http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3D3654
The Center for Applied Linguistics also has many resources, with the late=
st survey on what languages are being taught and how in Elementary to Hig=
h schools in the United States.
Alejandra
Se=F1ora Alejandra Lejwa
Upper School Spanish Instructor
World Language Department Chair
Hutchison School
1740 Ridgeway Road
Memphis, TN 38119
901.761.2220 ext. 766
alejwa@hutchisonschool.org
Discover Languages! Discover the World!
www.discoverlanguages.org
=20
A forum for independent school educators <ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU> writes=
:
>We are taking a look at our foreign language program, pre-kindergarten
>through 12th. Currently we offer a little Spanish in the Lower School,
>begin formal study of French or Spanish in the sixth grade, require a ye=
ar
>of Latin in eighth grade, and offer Latin, Spanish, French, and Mandarin=
in
>Upper School.
>
>I would be interested in hearing from schools, particularly those with p=
re-K
>(or K) through 12th or lower and middle schools, about things that you a=
re
>doing, especially if you introduce formal study early or offer other
>languages at any level.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Jim
>--=20
>Jim Dunaway
>Dean of Faculty
>The Kinkaid School
>Houston, Texas
>
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874 ]
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Elizabeth A. Miller
Upper School Head
Hutchison School=20
1740 Ridgeway Road
Memphis, TN 38119
Office: (901) 432-6644
Fax: (901) 683-0443
emiller@hutchisonschool.org =20
"The important goal of education is to teach a student to be self-reliant=
, to think for herself."
--Mary Grimes Hutchison
Founder and Headmistress, 1902-1947
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