Elementary School

Students at The Cooper School take Spanish during their time in elementary school. Elementary students are introduced to conversational Spanish through song, dramatic role-play and simple texts. In addition, students are introduced to cultural practices in countries that speak Spanish. Students in upper grades begin to read, write and converse. All students engage in language studies as part of their social studies curriculum. During these studies, students consider the variations in written language past and present of various peoples.

Middle School

Middle School students will have 3 classes per week to develop communication skills in French or Spanish and to make comparisons and connections to the cultures they are studying with the goal of encouraging understanding and acceptance of differences. Life in French or Spanish-speaking countries will be examined and correct pronunciation and writing will receive emphasis. Students learn to express and understand receptively ideas on topics such as common conversational phrases, vocabulary using numbers, calendar and weather, descriptions and likes and dislikes.