Essays, Personality Tests and Geography in French!

Students of Madame Leidhoff's Advanced Placement French continue to forge ahead with practice on the new French Language and Culture Advanced Placement Exam. This week these hard-working students did listening and reading prompts, as well as a persuasive essay.

Students also took a personality test in French, viewed a Court Metrage, and vocabulary activities associated with their feelings and personality differences.

Students of first year French did culture and geography of France. They also continue to learn words associated with the classroom, salutations, and new questions to ask each other.

Verde, Blanco y Rojo

It's Homecoming and Period 1 students noticed that, with only one senior, the class colors reflected the colors of the Mexican Flag. Señor Lawhead was convinced to take a class photo showing VERDE, BLANCO y ROJO(and the lone senior AZUL). ¡Feliz Homecoming, Halcones!

¡Hola, yo soy...!

Dr. Jacobson's Spanish 1-2 students practiced saying phrases of introduction and descriptions using the verb 'Ser'. Students brought a picture of themeselves to school and created 'Yo mismo (misma)' mini-posters that are displayed on the wall, providing their name, names of family members, where they are from, their birthdate and additional information students desired to include on their personal narrative. 

Past Tense, Personal Descriptions and the Weather!

Sra. Ranzolin's Spanish 5-6 students wrote about a funny event from the past using the preterite tense and drew a picture to go with it. Students in Spanish 3-4 continued with their review of Spanish 1-2. They also started working on their first project in which they describe themselves in detail. Students in Spanish 1-2 learned the days of the weeks, the numbers 1-10, and how to describe the weather. They culminated with a class activity in which they researched the weather of a Spanish Speaking country and created a weather report.

Welcome Miss Burke!

World Languages would like to welcome Miss Elizabeth Burke to the department.  Miss Burke will be teaching ASL 3-4 and 5-6.  She comes to us with a degree in DHH (Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing)Teaching and American Sign Language from Eastern Kentucky University. She has recently returned from Kenya where she worked with DHH students for the Peace Corps.  Welcome Miss Burke!

Numbers, spelling and games for ASL students!

Mrs. Redelings's ASL 1 students finished Unit 1 vocabulary and learned numbers 16-30. . To review for their tests, students signed and finger-spelled with partners and as a class in Sign Volleyball and also practiced their comprehension skills through white board practice. In addition, they played language games, such as 'Vocabulary Beach Ball,' and 'Fly Swatter.'

¡Vóleibol de Verbos and Crayon Therapy!

Sr. McVeigh's 5-6 and 7-8 classes practiced the irregular preterite tense verbs with "vóleibol de verbos." A flying beach ball always makes conjugating verbs a little more fun! Yesterday, the AP Spanish students had some "Crayon Therapy" to compensate for two weeks of stressful testing. In partners, one student described his or her favorite elementary school teacher while their partner drew a picture of the teacher based on the description they heard.

French students sing, play and "travel" to Morocco!

Madame Leidhoff's students of advanced French practiced the conditional mode by choosing a prompt in French from the game SCRUPLES. Students also sang the song SACRE CHARLEMAGNE. Compostion is due on Monday.

Students of beginning French took a brief trip to Morocco, with Ian Wright of THE LONELY PLANET and categorized transportation, arts, festivals, foods and customs on conceptual map.

Campus Walk for French Students!

Madame Frederickson's French 5-6 students took a short walk around the campus and then returned to the classroom to write about the walk. "Compositions" sounded a bit like this: "We saw one bird. It was not singing. The bird was black and the sky was blue. Cayci was taking pictures. The weather was hot. One teacher wearing a red tee-shirt walked by. We went to the library. Mrs. Toyzan welcomed us. She told us about the library, its books and computers. Then we went back to the room."  A great way to study the past tense!

Singing in Class

Señor Lawhead leads his students in singing "Pobre Nacha".  Although he tells them that it's a vocabulary and pronunciation exercise, the students still claim that it's a funny song!

 

Spanish through music!

By translating the lyrics of the songs "Somos Novios" and "Te Quiero Tanto, Tanto" Profe Bañuelos's Spanish 3-4 students got a taste of how beautiful the Spanish language can be through music. They used their previous knowledge of Spanish but also learned new words too. Period 5 students Max and Grace are pictured here breaking down lyrics from Spanish to English.

¡Viva México!

A video and discussion gave students in Señor Lawhead's Sp. 5-6 classes a better understanding of Día de Independencia de México.  It was followed up by watching the Mexcian President, Felipe Calderón give the annual Independence Day "Grito de Dolores" on September 15.

All classes are preparing for their first review test this coming Wednesday or Thursday.

"El Grito" and Miguel Hidalgo

After learning a little about "El Grito" last Friday, Sr. McVeigh's Spanish 5-6 and 7-8 students will learn more about Padre Hidalgo through a musical biography of him sung by Hermanos Zavala. This activity is a fun way of incorporating history and culture, as well as some listening practice, into our classes. The 5-6 and 7-8 students are also preparing for their first vocabulary quizzes this week and the Etapa Preliminar Review Exams next week. AP Spanish students are about two-thirds of the way through the AP Practice Exam - ¡bravo! In the process, they have written a letter to a grandparent and an online article about a superstar's summer. On Monday, they will start reading an audio eBook (with full PDF transcript) about the life of Miguel Hidalgo. 

TPR/S Fun!

Señor Lawhead's classes have begun using TPR/S to gain fluency in Spanish.  With mini-cuentos, physical movements to remember vocabulary and telling stories based on new and unforseen situations. With this method, students will find that their fluency and comfort in spoken Spanish will increase exponentially!  For more information and links on Total Physical Response with Storytelling (TPR/S), see Señor Lawhead's website.

New, Updated Website! Check it out!

Dr. Jacobson invites Spanish language students to peruse her updated website that can be used as an added resource for study and review of grammar, vocabulary, reading practice, songs, and cultural information. The website includes links to power point presentations, charts, learning games, videos, and comprehension activities. The website also includes critical thinking and questioning strategies related to reading comprehension, writing and speaking activities as well as concept organizers in Spanish.

56 Countries World-wide Speak French!

Students in Madame Leidhoff's 1st-year French have begun learning numbers, calendar elements and salutations.  Students of 2nd-year French continue to review language learned last year including a discussion conducted on the global importance of the French language. Do you know that 56 countries world-wide speak French? After English, French is the second most popular learned language world. See the document on Madame Leidhoff's webpage!

Advanced French students, AP students are beginning to study the structure of the new College Board Exam. This weekend, they will begin part of the practice exam.

Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish for Sp 1-2

Students in Dr. Jacobson's Spanish 1-2 classes learned and practiced reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish. After discussing the most meaningful concepts of the pledge, students included sentences relating what they appreciate most about being a U.S. citizen on their 'Yo mismo' narrative posters.

Saludos, el Alfabeto y Repaso

Students in Sra. Ranzolin's Spanish 1-2 learned and practiced greetings and introductions. They also learned how to say where they are from and their ABC's in Spanish. They created mini-skits and made an ABC book. Students in 3-4 reviewed common verbs and began a class activity about describing people. Students in 5-6 reviewed conjugating in the present tense and worked with partners to create a story about what they do.

Viajero Profe Bañuelos

Profe Bañuelos spent most of his summer in South America in the Spanish-speaking countries of Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia in order to expand his knowledge of those regions/cultures. Highlights included: #1 Attending the Copa America soccer matches in Argentina. #2 Conversing with the Argentine and Uruguayan public in their unique style of Spanish. #3 Attending FIFA Under-20 World Cup soccer matches as well as the Feria de las Flores in Colombia. More travels to come!

French Students Introduce Each Other

Madame Frederickson's French 5-6 students interviewed each other - languages spoken, favorite sport or activity, something he/she hopes to do one day - and created a pipe cleaner sculpture based on the information. They presented the sculpture to the classmate it represented and explained the meaning of the colors and shapes.

Hace Calor, Il Fait Chaud....HOT!

Students endured an incredibly HOT beginning to the school year.  The World Languages Dept. would like to thank all the students and teachers for their hard work and willingness to continue learning and teaching, despite the terrible conditions.  No one expected or wished for the blackout and a day off...but it was deserved day of rest for all of us.  Thank-you students!  Thank-you teachers!

Blackwelder-sensei spends summer in Japan!

Mr. Blackwelder had a wonderful experience as one of 50 participants in a Japanese Institute this summer.  He and his colleagues from over 29 different countries studied Japanese language, pedagogy, grammar and culture. Besides intensive study, Mr. Blackwelder participated in an International Exchange Night, climbed Mt. Fuji and was honored by being ask to speak representing the Japanese teachers after a day of presentations at the great hall of the institute.  He has so much to share with his students this year!

Getting to Know Each Other

This week, students in Sra. Ranzolin's Spanish class worked in small groups and interviewed each other en español. They put their findings on a poster and shared with the class.  It was great way to get to know each other! 

あ、い、う、え、and お

Students in Mr. Blackwelder's Japanese 1-2 class learned how to count from 1-99, how to give their ages and formal self-introductions ("Hajimemashite!" "My name is..." "Doozo Yoroshiku!"), and how to bow as a sign of respect when greeting. Students also practiced their first five hiragana: a, i, u, e, and o. (あ、い、う、え、and お)

La Llorona and more

Sr. McVeigh's 5-6 students are starting to review everything they have learned in 1-2 and 3-4. Such a long list! After a few more days of review, they will enter the world of scary stories and read about "La Llorona!" 

El - La - Los - Las

After repeating and responding to questions related to expressions using articles, Dr. Jacobson's students  shared their own definitions and interpretations of the grammatical principles.

Staffing Changes for World Languages 2011-2012

The World Languages Department welcomes Mrs. Miriam Ranzolin!  Mrs. Ranzolin teaches Spanish 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6 in Room 253. She comes to us from Kearny High School.  Mrs. Arinn Smith returned to Madison High School and Mr. Edward Stanko is teaching Spanish at Patrick Henry High School.  We are sad to lose Mrs. Smith and Mr. Stanko but wish them the best!