Switching up the Spanish program

Albany High’s language department is steppin’ it up: not only is Albany High School getting a Mandarin class next year, but it’s also getting a Spanish class for the native speakers at our school. This class will be called “Spanish for Spanish-speakers” and will welcome anyone interested in joining.

This class is proposed for native Spanish-speakers who are not given the chance to exercise their natural speaking ability in class. Unlike Spanish 4, this class will go beyond learning grammar and verb tenses; it will focus on real literature. Students will read many short stories and write essays corresponding to them. Compared to other Spanish classes that require you to learn hundreds of vocabulary and grammar rules, this class seems like a great change.

But you haven’t heard the sweetest part about this new class: it does not require an entrance exam or a teacher’s recommendation. Anybody and everybody can join it as long as they feel like they have the ability to keep up with the class. Keep in mind that this is a class designed for people who are fluent (or almost fluent) in Spanish. If you can’t even understand “¿dónde está mi sombrero?” or “¿puedo ir al baño, por favor?” don’t put down this course on your selection sheet.

Even though this class will be challenging, it will not be considered an Honors/AP class. It will give regular credits and be much like an upgraded version of Spanish 4. Lourdes Ortega, the current Spanish 4 teacher, will teach the class. She is excited and eager to get started on this project. “I like it,” she said with a beaming smile.“It is going to be fun.”

2 Responses

1. 6:54 AM on March 22nd, 2007Anonymous:

   Nice article. Very Interesting…

2. 10:48 AM on March 22nd, 2007ortega luver:

   ORTEGA GOES

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