Our Spanish Department follows the North Carolina Standards to develop students' language skills and intercultural competence. Learning multiple languages offers cognitive, economic, educational, and cultural benefits–preparing students for college, careers, and the military.

The standards focus on three communication modes: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. They emphasize literacy, interdisciplinary work, intercultural connections, and community connections. Based on the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards, our program outlines what students can achieve at each proficiency level.

Factors like continuity of study, program design, and language exposure influence proficiency. Our goal is to produce globally aware and collaborative students.  These are the descriptions of our Spanish courses: 

SPANISH I

Prerequisite: None, Credit: 1, Grades: 9-12, Weight: S

Spanish I offers students the chance to start learning Spanish. They will practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing at a novice-low level to engage in simple Spanish conversations. Students will engage in conversations using what they've learned, both orally and in writing. They will be able to meet basic needs inside and outside of the classroom. They will write simple sentences to describe, compare, and summarize familiar topics from Spanish-speaking cultures. The course emphasizes communication and understanding the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries.

Course Goals:

• Interpersonal Communication: Students will engage in basic conversations and exchange personal information and opinions in Spanish.

• Interpretive Communication: Students will understand and interpret written and spoken Spanish on everyday topics.

• Presentational Communication: Students will present basic information, concepts, and ideas to listeners and readers on daily topics in Spanish.

• Cultures: Students will learn about the practices of Hispanic cultures.

• Comparisons: Students will compare their own language and culture with those of Spanish-speaking countries to gain insights.

SPANISH II  

Prerequisite: Spanish I, Credit: 1, Grades: 10-12, Weight: S

Spanish II builds on the foundations of Spanish I, helping students advance their skills to the novice-high level in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This course focuses on intermediate communication in simple Spanish conversations, both inside and outside of the classroom. Students will learn to write more complex sentences to describe, compare, and summarize familiar topics from Spanish-speaking cultures. Additionally, the course emphasizes effective communication and understanding the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries.  

Additional Goals:

• Connections: Enhance your understanding of other subjects through Spanish.

• Communities: Use Spanish and demonstrate cultural knowledge within and beyond the school setting for personal, educational, and professional growth.

This course is a continuation of Spanish I, designed to further your Spanish language skills.

SPANISH III

Prerequisite: Spanish II, Credit: 1, Grades: 11-12, Weight: H

Honors Spanish III is an accelerated course that builds upon the skills developed in Spanish II, transitioning students from the Novice-High to the Intermediate-Low proficiency level. This course emphasizes more spontaneous, sustained communication and moves students toward creating connected sentences and paragraphs. Students will learn to narrate and describe in various time frames—including the past, present, and future—to express more complex ideas. The course continues to integrate culture, allowing students to engage with authentic materials and deepen their understanding of the diverse Spanish-speaking world.

Course Goals:

• Interpersonal Communication: Students will initiate and sustain conversations on a wide variety of familiar and academic topics, handling social situations and uncomplicated tasks with increased spontaneity.

• Interpretive Communication: Students will understand the main idea and supporting details in authentic written and oral texts, such as short stories, news articles, and podcasts.

• Presentational Communication: Students will deliver organized presentations and write compositions on familiar and researched topics, using a series of connected sentences and paragraphs.

• Cultures and Comparisons: Students will analyze the practices, products, and perspectives of Hispanic cultures, comparing them with their own to develop a sophisticated global worldview.

• Connections and Communities: Students will use Spanish to investigate other academic disciplines and engage with Spanish-speaking communities for personal enrichment and career preparation.

This honors-level course is designed for students who wish to achieve a higher level of fluency and prepares them for advanced study or professional use of the language. 

IB SPANISH AB INITIO

Prerequisite: None, Credit: 1, Grades: 11-12, Weight: H

IB Spanish Ab Initio is an intensive, two-year beginner-level course designed for students with little to no prior experience in the language. As part of the IB Diploma Programme, this course is designed to challenge students linguistically and academically, with an accelerated pace to achieve intermediate proficiency. Students go beyond basic vocabulary to explore five prescribed themes: Identities, Experiences, Human Ingenuity, Social Organization, and Sharing the Planet.

The course focuses on developing a high level of "international mindedness" and communicative competence. By the end of the program, students will be able to interact confidently in a variety of everyday situations and understand the cultural nuances that shape the Spanish-speaking world.

Core Themes & Exploration:

• Identities: Explore health and well-being, beliefs and values, and what it means to be Hispanic in a globalized world.

• Experiences: Discuss leisure activities, holidays, travel, and life stories.

• Human Ingenuity: Examine entertainment, expressions of creativity, and the impact of technology.

• Social Organization: Investigate social relationships, community engagement, and the world of work.

• Sharing the Planet: Address environmental concerns, human rights, and peace and conflict.

Conceptual Understandings: In addition to grammar and vocabulary, students focus on five key concepts to master the language:

• Audience: Who is receiving the message?

• Context: Where and when is the communication taking place?

• Purpose: Why is the message being sent?

• Meaning: What is the deeper intent of the message?

• Variation: How does language change based on culture or region?

Assessment Overview: To meet IB standards, students are assessed on their ability to use Spanish in real-world scenarios:

• External Assessment: Includes Paper 1 (productive skills—writing) and Paper 2 (receptive skills—listening and reading).

• Internal Assessment: An individual oral exam where students describe a visual stimulus and engage in a conversation with the teacher regarding the course themes.