Spanish 1B
In eighth grade Spanish, students will learn to communicate more effectively and confidently with an overall focus on fluency and accuracy. The course will include a review of present and future tenses and expand to gain proficiency in the command of past (preterit and imperfect) and conditional tenses. Students will be able to describe and express themselves, discern formal and informal situations, give and receive commands, and talk about topics such as childhood activities and toys, life events, food, measurements, shopping, travel, plants and animals, and outdoor activities. Further, students will deepen their understanding of Spanish-speaking regions and cultures through the study of history, literature, culture, and contemporary issues. This course will be taught almost exclusively in Spanish. Students will incorporate the skills learned throughout their Open Window experience on an immersion based partnership in Costa Rica that will challenge them as they interact with local guides and stay with a Costa Rican family. Content will be based on ¡Exprésate! Level 1B as well as standards of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). High school placement will vary by student and school, but most students completing this course well be well prepared to enter a second year high school course as ninth graders. As a way to connect their Spanish studies to the eighth grade humanities curriculum, students will study immigration patterns of Hispanic populations in the United States with a focus on Washington State.
Spanish 2
In the advanced eighth grade Spanish course, students will learn to communicate more effectively and confidently with an overall focus on fluency and accuracy. Course concepts and curriculum will use thematic and communicative approaches to facilitate the learning process. The course will include a review of present and future tenses and expand to gain proficiency in the command of past (preterit and imperfect) and conditional tenses. Students will also be exposed to the subjunctive tense; used to describe their wishes, hopes, opinions, and give advice. Students will be able to describe and express themselves, discern formal and informal situations, give and receive commands, and talk about topics such as childhood activities and toys, life events, food, measurements, shopping, travel, plants and animals, and outdoor activities. Students will incorporate the skills learned throughout their Open Window experience on an immersion based partnership in Costa Rica that will challenge them as they interact with local guides and stay with a Costa Rican family. Further, students will deepen their understanding of Spanish-speaking regions and cultures through the study of history, literature, culture, and contemporary issues. The Spanish department encourages students to consult appropriate external materials such as web links, community resources, and other media to better understand Hispanic culture. Classes will be taught almost exclusively in Spanish. Content will be based on ¡Exprésate! Level 2 as well as standards of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). High school placement will vary by student and school, but most students completing this course well be well prepared to enter a third year high school course as ninth graders. As a way to connect their Spanish studies to the eighth grade humanities curriculum, students will study immigration patterns and labor disputes of Hispanic populations in the United States with a focus on Washington State and current legislation.
Conversational Spanish
This course is only offered to seventh and eighth grade students. It covers vocabulary, pronunciation, and high-frequency grammar structures in order to enhance communicative skills with a focus on listening comprehension and spoken output. In preparation for the eighth grade hallmark trip to Costa Rica, students will gain an understanding of basic grammar and sentence structures, which are absolutely necessary for competence in spoken Spanish. In this course, students will practice speaking and understanding the language of everyday life and become more informed on the different cultures and customs of the Spanish speaking world. Current events and subjects of particular interest to the class will also guide some of the discussions of this course.