© copyright 2009 Union Independent School |Durham, North Carolina | (919) 682-5903 | email: tkweaver@unionis.org
Spanish
Students will gain an introduction to the sounds, rhythm and pace of the Spanish language via Foreign Language in the Elementary Schools (FLES) Program. Students will actively engaged in listening, responding and speaking the language through activities that integrate music, movement, and play, with a content-connection to our science curriculum. Except for the very first few days of classes, all FLES classes are conducted entirely in the foreign language. This creates an atmosphere of immersion—the most effective way to teach a new language—and optimizes the small amount of time the FLES teacher has in contact with the students. Conducting classes entirely in the language of instruction, allows children to attune their ears to the sounds of the language and become more used to hearing it spoken. Students are given authentic names to enhance the atmosphere of immersion. The FLES philosophy is that students will learn and retain the language much better due to the incentive of their curiosity to “figure out” the words and ideas that are presented.