Year Long Course
Students may only study one language elective.
Requirements:
Returning students who were enrolled in French/Spanish 6: Successful completion of the Grade 6 semester course.
Returning/New students who did not take French/Spanish 6: Students who have had a basic introduction to the language may join French/Spanish A1.
It may be possible for students who are absolute beginners to enroll in French/Spanish A1 provided they are highly motivated and willing to work hard as they will be joining a class with peers who have already been exposed to the language for a short period of time.
Students will have a short conference with the French/Spanish teacher at the start of the year.
Please note: Students in Beginner EAL may not enroll in French/Spanish. Students enrolled in Learning Support who wish to take French/Spanish will need the approval of their Learning Support teacher.
Spanish 7 (CEFR A1) – Year Long Course
This course builds on the introductory Spanish 6 course and is conducted primarily in Spanish. Through an engaging communicative approach - using the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing - students broaden their range of vocabulary and their grammatical knowledge. Students also have the opportunity to explore some of the different cultures of the Spanish-speaking regions in the world. Spanish is used as much as possible as the language of communication in class among the teacher and students and among students themselves. They extend their vocabulary by studying different topics (school, family and friends, physical description, shops and facilities in the city, asking for directions, daily routine, leisure time...). They also study complex grammatical concepts (present tense of regular and irregular verbs, negative forms, reflexive verbs, possessive adjectives, articles, adjective endings, noun and adjective agreement and near future tense) and apply them by doing fun and creative projects throughout the course. At the end of the year, students read their first novel in Spanish and find it a positive and fun step in their learning. Students' overall proficiency improves dramatically in grade 7: they begin the year knowing how to create very basic sentences and by the end of the year are able to converse, read, and write about a good range of topics.
Units of Study:
Unit 1: Mi colegio / My school
- Vocabulary: parts of the day, school vocab (subjects, places, etc.); adjectives to express preferences, revision of days of the week and months; también/tampoco (too/neither)
- Grammar: revision present tense; there is/there are; the verb “gustar” (to like); possessive adjectives (singular forms).
Unit 2: ¡Somos geniales! / We are great!
- Vocabulary: family members, clothes, physical appearance, feelings, personality
- Grammar: revision of regular present tense, all possessive adjectives, quantifiers, basic linking words; noun - adjective agreement.
Unit 3: Me gusta bailar / I like to dance
- Vocabulary: hobbies, free time, how to tell the time, frequency adverbs
- Grammar: the verb “gustar”, indirect object pronouns, reflexive verbs in the present, irregular verbs in the present.
Unit 4: ¡Qué bonito y qué rico! / How beautiful and how delicious!
- Vocabulary: food, ordering in a restaurant, shopping, clothes, asking and giving directions, places and buildings in the city; adjectives to describe clothes
- Grammar: use of the verbs “hay”, “ser” and “estar”, prepositions of location, verb “ir” (to go), the preposition “para”, demonstrative adjectives and pronouns, “ser” vs. “estar”.
Unit 5- ¡Nos vamos de vacaciones! / We are going on holiday!
- Vocabulary: holiday activities
- Grammar: introduction to the immediate future tense
Reading a novel — Ladrones de tesoros (level A1.2)