FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Second language acquisition enables people to effectively
communicate in other cultures, look beyond their customary borders, participate
more fully in the global community and marketplace, develop insight into their
own language and culture, act with greater awareness of self, of other cultures
and their own relationship to those cultures, and gain direct access to
additional bodies of knowledge.
The foreign language department at East Buchanan believes that all
students are language and culture learners and they can achieve success. It is recognized that students acquire
proficiency at varied rates, learn in a variety of ways and settings, and
benefit from the development and maintenance of proficiency in more than one
language. Language study is
student-centered, interactive, and success-oriented. It focuses on communication and cultural
understanding and it develops and enhances communication and higher-order
thinking skills.
Foreign
Language is not a requirement to graduate from East Buchanan. In most cases three to four years of
study of a single foreign language in high school will fulfill the college
requirement and the student will not be required to study further in college. However, requirements vary from college
to college and major to major. Many
colleges and universities offer credit hours for high school foreign language
study. Students are advised to
investigate the opportunities available to them after a minimum of three years
of study. Students who anticipate careers in business, social sciences,
medicine, history, art, music, or English will benefit from language
study. A complete study of a single
foreign language will also prepare students for the study of any other foreign
language.
93 SPANISH
I
GRADE LEVEL: 9+
NUMBER OF
TRIMESTERS: 3
Students will gain working knowledge
of grammar and vocabulary for use in reading, writing, and speaking, as well as
an understanding of culture and language.
Emphasis will be placed on writing and speaking for expression of
feelings and needs. Additional
focus will be placed on reading comprehension and understanding of culture and
language.
94 SPANISH II
GRADE
LEVEL: 10+
NUMBER OF
TRIMESTERS: 3
RECOMMENDED: Spanish I
Students will further develop skills
covered in Spanish I through vocabulary and grammar expansion. Students will role play,
read short stories, communicate about past and future and enhance cultural
understanding. Students will speak
and create projects in the target language to increase fluency. Reading, writing, listening, and
speaking skills will be developed.
95 SPANISH III
GRADE
LEVEL: 11+
NUMBER OF
TRIMESTERS: 3
RECOMMENDED: Spanish II
Spanish III offers students the
opportunity to acquire an in-depth knowledge of Spanish speaking countries by
reading authentic Spanish literature, legends, and news articles. In addition, students will expand their
use of language by studying various verb tenses and grammatical concepts.
96 SPANISH IV
GRADE LEVEL: 12
NUMBER OF
TRIMESTERS: 3
RECOMMENDED: Spanish III
Spanish IV will prepare a student for
success in post-secondary foreign language study as well as review and practice
all simple tenses and some compound verb tenses. In addition, authentic Spanish
literature will be utilized for historical and cultural understanding. Effective speaking, reading, writing,
and listening, in the target language are course goals.