Spanish Instruction Program
International research in second language acquisition, a growing global market and the changing demographics in California all have reshaped the structure of Aurora's Spanish language program.
Beginning with the 2007 - 2008 school year, the foreign language program will be phasing in additional Spanish instruction and enhancing the program in all areas. The focus of our Spanish program is no longer just language exposure, but an incremental program toward Spanish language fluency.
To achieve this goal we are phasing in:
- Increased instructional time
- Select instructional topics presented primarily in Spanish
- Collaboration with classroom teachers during regular class instruction in the lower grades
- Evening Spanish classes for teachers and parents
Our instructional goals are also closely aligned with the five national standards as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
At all grade levels, children will develop the habits of lifelong language learners as they meet these national standards:
- To communicate in languages other than English
- To gain knowledge and understanding of other cultures
- To connect knowledge from other disciplines through the use of the foreign language and acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints only available through the foreign language and its cultures
- To make comparisons and develop insight into the nature of language and culture
- To participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world