K - 5 Spanish

Recognizing the importance of second language acquisition, Gateway teaches Spanish at every grade beginning in first grade.

Importance of Foreign Language

Research confirms that knowledge of a second language strengthens first-language skills, and helps students to appreciate the power of words and the many different uses of language. When children hear and experience the sounds and feelings of a foreign language, they develop an ear for all language acquisition. The ability to speak two or more languages generally enhances problem-solving and reasoning skills, the capacity for creative thinking, and the ability to respect and understand other cultures. Second-language learning strengthens the ability to communicate and participate effectively in the workplace and in the global community.

Spanish Curriculum

Gateway’s Spanish instruction imparts a love of the Spanish language and an appreciation for Hispanic cultures. It is taught through songs, stories, art, drama, conversation, and vocabulary building, focusing on speaking and listening in the earlier grades, then moving into grammar and the written word in the upper grades.

Taking a developmental approach, language skills introduced each year become more complex as the children grow and develop. The teachers provide a supportive environment where second-language skills are gradually introduced and continuously practiced. Integrating elements of Spanish with other curricular areas helps students see connections and relationships among ideas, people and things, and relate their learning to the world within and outside the school. Lessons are designed to prepare students to use Spanish in a variety of contexts including: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.