Local school's Spanish program yielding positive results

Barrington Christian Academy started new program in 2017

Posted 7/30/18

While many Americans study a foreign language in school, not all are able to have a conversation in that language. 

That’s a situation that Shannon Norquist, chair of the Spanish …

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Local school's Spanish program yielding positive results

Barrington Christian Academy started new program in 2017

Posted

While many Americans study a foreign language in school, not all are able to have a conversation in that language. 

That’s a situation that Shannon Norquist, chair of the Spanish department at Barrington Christian Academy, sees as a tragic missed opportunity.

“The goal is not to finish a graduation requirement, but rather to develop conversational proficiency and take that into an immersive language experience," said Ms. Norquist.

Starting in Sept. 2017, Ms. Norquist initiated the SPAN program — a systematic, proficiency-based approach to language learning that starts in kindergarten. The ultimate goal was to have all BCA graduates be proficient in the language.

Instead of focusing on language graduation requirements, SPAN emphasizes growth in proficiency. Students are able to chart and measure their own progress with the help of standardized proficiency exams and teacher feedback. 

Language acquisition research has established that the early elementary years present the greatest opportunity for long term language retention for most learners. 

This, said Ms. Norquist, is the reason BCA introduces formal language learning so early. The programs is enriched with “lingua café” — Spanish conversation sessions with high school students and rich cultural experiences. Students learn language skills as they taste flavors, sing songs, and move to the beat of Latin rhythms.

The early results are compelling, as older students are already pushing the boundaries of the school’s existing Spanish curriculum. This year, a college-level class in Spanish literature and film will provide learning opportunities for those who have already passed AP Spanish. Several of this year’s eighth-graders are expected to pass AP Spanish their sophomore year, opening even more opportunities for advanced courses and other immersive language experiences. The school is also planning a trip to Ecuador to partner with local teens in a variety of service and learning projects, with Spanish the sole medium of communication.

“Ultimately, we are about our students leading by serving in every arena of society. We see foreign language proficiency as a vital piece of that,” said Sean Hunley, head of school at BCA. “I see our bilingual students going out into the world with the confidence to reach out and connect with people, with so many opportunities for friendship, travel, ministry, and business.”

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