Spanish at alcuin

In the Spanish program, we build relationships through open and compassionate communication, creative collaborative work, and by valuing and respecting another’s perspective and input as well as our own. The program helps to develop essential life skills such as innovative and flexible thinking, cooperation, resilience in the face of challenges, and courage to attempt new endeavors --- all qualities to be found in contributing members of society.

To open the door to creative writing, storytelling, drawing and role playing, students heard the story of Pete the Cat. The moral of Pete’s story is that when there are challenges in your life, you can get upset and give up, or choose to continue working toward your goal.  

Telling stories is one of the best ways for children to not only learn the language but also learn meaning, cultural understanding, and how to solve everyday problems. Additionally, storytelling helps students acquire and develop individual reading tastes, skills, and creativity.

Or as Nohora Inés Porras González, author and former language coordinator at Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia states, “Telling stories provides the opportunities for students to speak the foreign language creatively, integrate information and knowledge they learn from other sources, and become more confident in the ability to express themselves spontaneously.” 

In the upcoming months, the different levels of the Spanish Program will be participating in various projects, such as building a country, a poetry and poster competition, group creative writing, a Spanish spelling bee, musical composition, many cultural explorations, and of course, the Middle School trip to Costa Rica!

Rita Cassiano
Alcuin Spanish Coordinator