Elementary School

Students at The Cooper School rotate through French and Spanish. Kindergarten takes Spanish, and First Grade takes French. Beginning in Second Grade, students are able to choose which of these languages to study all year. Children in the early grades are introduced to conversational Spanish and French through song, dramatic role play and simple texts. In addition, students are introduced to cultural practices in countries that speak French and Spanish. Students in upper grades begin to read, write and converse in their chosen language. 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 2 classes per week to develop communication skills in Spanish and to make comparisons and connections to Spanish-speaking cultures with the goal of encouraging understanding and acceptance of differences. Life in various 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.