Foreign Language
As a small school, we have focused our resources on teaching one language, Spanish, and teaching it well. The Spanish program at Olney Friends School has a strong focus on oral skills, with regular practice in conversation, reading, and writing. Our classroom focuses on interactive, creative, and cooperative approaches to learning that can be applied to real-life situations.
Students receive a solid foundation in formal grammar instruction. Geography and cultures of Spain and Latin America are an essential element of all Spanish courses.
Because more than half the students take Spanish, and we often have a few Spanish-speaking students from different parts of Latin America, there are many opportunities to practice speaking and comprehension. Students participate in hands-on projects and productions that allow them to apply their learning. One such example is the annual Perch, or Spanish talent show.
Recent class activities have included:
- Skits about daily routine using reflexive verbs
- Research projects and presentations about Hispanic Americans
- Celebration of Mexican Independence Day & el Día de los Muertos
- Día de la Raza discussion – on the European conquest of the Americas
- Weekly Spanish table discussions at dinner on Monday nights
- Skype conversations with native speakers
- Conversations about Mexico-US immigration
- Olney farm tour and vocabulary lesson
- Reading of Pablo Neruda poetry
- Discussion of NAFTA and its influence on agriculture in Mexico
We have one full-time Spanish teacher. Courses are offered from introductory level (Spanish 1) through Spanish 4, which focuses time on reading literature and learning to write analytically. An AP Spanish 5 class has been taught in the past, and its availability is dependent on current students and their needs. Spanish class sizes range from 3 to 15 students, allowing for ample specialized instruction.
Currently, an elective is being offered in Introductory Mandarin, in which students learn basic Chinese with a focus on everyday vocabulary and Chinese culture.