HS Spanish 2
TAUGHT BY
Marji McIlvaine
9th-12th
Spanish 2 – With A Difference!
"I just took the university Spanish placement test and I tested out of their college Spanish requirement! (But I'm planning on continuing and going to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country.)" (student Anna, summer 2019)
The adventure continues! Spanish 2 is a continuation of Spanish 1 – same text but with different novels. Students from other Spanish 1 classes are welcome to join, but will be asked to take a placement test to be assured of good placement for the student – we want every student to succeed with confidence!
Explanation of method follows. Learning smarter, not harder! After 20+ years of teaching Spanish in a traditional format, I am now teaching by blending that with a different approach called the “reading & storytelling” approach (TPRS) to learning a foreign language. Research & scholarly studies reveal that students learn to speak and use the languages faster, and better, with this approach – it equips every learner, from the gifted student to the dyslexic. Success – and fun!
Students will be speaking, understanding, and reading the language from the first week – growing in ability quickly. Grammar is taught every class through meaning and application.
While your student will speak and converse a lot, this is more than a conversational language class. Grammar is included through meaning and repetition and small doses of concentrated material –– the student acquires language because he or she understands what is being said.
There are many benefits to foreign language study, from the academic, to the business world, to the understanding of our own language. All of this is true – and it is required for entrance to many colleges. However, languages are meant for communication – and communicating the most important thing of all, the love and Truth of God, is our highest and greatest purpose with language. With language we build relationships – through those relationships we gain the “ear” of others to share the Truth of the Gospel.
In this class, we begin this journey through fun, and the ability to use the language as we learn it. I can scarcely wait to begin! Students should plan on 45 minutes to an hour of work four days per week, plus the work in class. This work at home is foundational to achievement. We will work through our text and read one or two novels completely in Spanish, depending on class achievement.
This course uses a lot of “out of the text” material, so we will move through this text very slowly, adding other core learning materials through the year. This text will be the same one we used in Spanish 1. Scripture memory will always be included, as well as praise songs, hymns, contemporary music, culture, foods and games.
Parents: Please inform me (instructor) if you know your student has dyslexic/learning issues. I believe those students can find success through this approach, but it will help me to know. I also have back-up resources to recommend.
Former student's message:
"Mrs Mac, I want to say thank you so much. I feel like I owe you an unrepayable debt. I went to Nicaragua this time as not just a missions team member but also an interpreter. I was able to do that not only because you taught me Spanish, but because you taught me to love and pursue Spanish. You have had a bigger impact on both myself, and the people in Nicaragua than you will ever know. Thank you so much!!!"
CLASS MATERIALS
Excelerate Spanish, Book 1 (see description in Spanish 1 course) with Student Worktext.
Novels planned: TBA by end of July. Cost will be approximately $8 each, and we plan to use three to four novels, depending on class ability and progress
After 26 years of homeschooling, Marji (& Rick) graduated the last of their six children.
Marji has a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Florida, graduate hours from ECU, and worked at UF as a bilingual aide to the tropical animal science programs. Her fiercest won endeavor, however, is her well-worn degree from the ‘University of Homeschooling’.
For 25 years she has taught homeschoolers locally and online. She also administers the W-J Achievement test. Her study of seven languages opened the door to working in positions at UF, a public school in CA, as well as translating for several businesses.
In college, she attended the Université de Dijon in France. She later spent a semester in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, traveling and building her German skills. Her first years of college included a major track in science study since she had planned to be a veterinarian. Through homeschooling she found she could fuse her love of snorkeling, scuba diving and science with marine biology. Through her work at UF with graduate students, she found she could also fuse her interests in animals, science, and foreign language.
Later, her homeschooling years incited a love of history, and now she is passionate about sharing the love of learning about every facet of God’s creation and His work in His people with her students. She loves staying immersed in our wonderful homeschool community.
Contact Marji at mcilvain@bellsouth.net, or www.mastersmarkacademics.com