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Course Description

Spanish 1

In this course, students will be able to recognize, speak, read and write basic Spanish vocabulary words such as alphabet & pronunciation, days, months, numbers, greetings, classroom expressions, basic Spanish geography, basic weather, seasons and other standard vocabularies. Interrogatives will be introduced as well as indefinite articles and colors. The student will be introduced to gustar concepts, action verbs, telling time, simple emotions, and singular and plural verb conjugation. Students will also cover body parts, prepositions, adjectives, ser & estar concepts, and finish the year with clothing vocabulary.

Spanish 2

In this course, students will review and expand their ability to greet peers and hold basic conversations with peers and elders in Spanish. They will be able to talk about their daily routine, increase their proficiency using present tense verbs, and expand their linguistic ability by including past tense verbs into their working vocabulary.

Spanish 3

In this course, students learn in-depth about Spanish culture and the most advanced principles of speaking, reading, and writing Spanish through in-class grammatical, verbal, written, and vocabulary practice that is offered in high school.

The course emphasizes listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills while exploring cultural topics such as traditions, history, and contemporary issues in Spanish-speaking countries. Students will engage in conversations, role-playing, and multimedia projects to deepen their understanding of the language and culture. By the end of the course, students will have a solid foundation in Spanish and a greater appreciation for Hispanic cultures. This course is ideal for those interested in learning a new language and broadening their cultural horizons.

Our Approach to World Languages

The approach to teaching World Languages at American Heritage School is based upon three primary goals. First, we desire to expose students to a diverse variety of cultures, ethnic traditions, and societies throughout the world. As is taught in the first of our Seven Principles of Liberty, we want students to learn to see that “all people are children of our Heavenly Father. Each child of God and all of God’s creations have a unique, divine purpose.” Second, we desire to expose students to different languages because of the long-term cognitive benefits of linguistic awareness and linguistic analysis. Third, we desire to expose students to different languages because it removes the fear of learning new languages and helps children believe that new language acquisition is not only possible, but also fun and exciting. In three words, these goals are tied to the “culture, cognition, and confidence” benefits that world language instruction provides. We also recognize that proficiency or even fluency are additional goals that some families have for their children. We have made thoughtful and measured allocations of school resources, class time, and student homework time to accomplish the three goals outlined above. We want to be clear that we do not expect our students to become proficient or fluent in a second language based purely upon these allocations of time and resources; however, where students and families would like to pursue language acquisition more than what is offered in our curricular courses, we encourage them to take advantage of extracurricular world language opportunities and resources available at AHS and elsewhere.

Course Details

Spanish

Second Grade Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade   Sixth Grade Seventh Grade Eighth Grade Ninth Grade Tenth Grade Eleventh Grade Twelfth Grade

Course Objectives

  • Build a foundational vocabulary in Spanish.
  • Learn basic Spanish grammar, including verb conjugation and sentence structure.
  • Develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
  • Gain an understanding of Hispanic cultures and traditions.
  • Engage in interactive activities to practice Spanish in real-world contexts.

Course Outline

Unit 1: Introduction to Spanish Language

  • Spanish Alphabet and Pronunciation
    • Learning the Spanish alphabet and basic pronunciation rules.
    • Practice with common Spanish words and phrases.
  • Basic Vocabulary and Greetings
    • Building vocabulary for everyday interactions.
    • Learning common greetings, introductions, and polite expressions.
  • Simple Sentences and Questions
    • Constructing simple sentences in Spanish.
    • Forming basic questions for conversation.

Unit 2: Spanish Grammar Fundamentals

  • Nouns and Articles
    • Understanding gender and number in Spanish nouns.
    • Using definite and indefinite articles.
  • Verbs and Conjugation
    • Introduction to common verb conjugations (present tense).
    • Conjugating regular verbs in Spanish.
  • Pronouns and Possessives
    • Learning subject pronouns and possessive adjectives.
    • Constructing sentences with pronouns and possessives.

Unit 3: Developing Listening and Speaking Skills

  • Listening Practice
    • Engaging in listening exercises with Spanish audio and videos.
    • Comprehension activities to improve listening skills.
  • Speaking and Conversation
    • Practicing speaking with role-playing and dialogues.
    • Learning conversational Spanish for everyday situations.

Unit 4: Exploring Hispanic Cultures

  • Hispanic Traditions and Holidays
    • Exploring key Hispanic traditions and celebrations.
    • Learning vocabulary related to cultural events and holidays.
  • Spanish-Speaking Countries
    • Overview of Spanish-speaking countries and their unique cultures.
    • Exploring the geography and history of these regions.

Unit 5: Reading and Writing in Spanish

  • Reading Comprehension
    • Reading simple texts and short stories in Spanish.
    • Activities to improve reading comprehension and vocabulary.
  • Writing in Spanish
    • Practicing basic writing skills, such as sentences and short paragraphs.
    • Writing about personal interests and cultural topics.

Unit 6: Intermediate Spanish Grammar

  • Irregular Verbs and Tenses
    • Learning conjugations for common irregular verbs.
    • Introduction to other tenses (future, past).
  • Adjectives and Adverbs
    • Using adjectives and adverbs in sentences.
    • Learning rules for agreement and word order.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Mrs. Marleni Colvin

Marleni Colvin grew up in Lima, Peru, where she completed a licensure in elementary education and a bachelor’s degree in education from Villarreal University. She has worked and served in many leadership and cultural organizations in her country. In 2002, while working as a teacher, she represented Peru at an international conference centered on politics and youth in Seville, Spain. She also served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the jungles and mountains of Peru.

Marleni moved to the US in 2012 where she has continued her teaching career as a Spanish teacher with experience in all educational levels.

In 2023, she finished a master’s degree in language and arts in Spanish at Idaho State University.

She also completed a Cyber Pedagogy program at the University of Utah and was also a presenter at the inaugural ARCONEXIONES educational conference organized by Idaho State University.

As part of her professional development, she is a member of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP). She has also trained with international Spanish language schools in Spain since 2023.

In 2024 she partnered with International Spanish schools in Salamanca and Seville, Spain, and created an immersion program to help American students to improve their Spanish knowledge through academic and cultural experiences in that country.

Marleni loves to spend time with her family and explore new places and different cultures. She likes to dance, especially traditional Peruvian dances and to listen to music.