Is there a change in foreign language curriculum

[Anonymous]

DC started HS this year and is taking Spanish 3. All our friends and neighbors watered us about Spanish being a painful class. We were ready to hire a tutor since Spanish 2 was painful in MS and DC is more STEM-focused kid. DC had first week of school and is telling us that Spanish curriculum is simplified and looks like review of Spanish 2. This past June MCPS conducted or survey of kids opinions of languages. I'm curious to know if MCPS took that feed back and modified the curriculum.

[Anonymous]

From what my friends tell me, language classes can be very difficult or very easy depending the teacher. This year my 7th grader is taking Spanish 2, and the teacher only speaks to them in Spanish - after a very easy Spanish 1 last year, DD is really struggling. I expect it will be hit and miss throughout her schooling. DS is a senior and takes Latin, and it's been a lot more linear in expectations.

[Anonymous]

^ oops, forgot to post the last sentence: because there's only one Latin teacher, and so she's been able to create the entire Latin 1, 2, 3, and AP Latin classes she wants.

[Anonymous]

You might want to wait a few weeks to decide. The first few weeks are always review.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might want to wait a few weeks to decide. The first few weeks are always review.

yes, this, duh.

[Anonymous]

At my child's school Spanish III already seems pretty difficult and this is for a child who was fine with the Spanish II teacher speaking only Spanish and got As in that class without studying.

[Anonymous]

12:45 again, with the kid struggling in Spanish 2.

Do you think watching the news in Spanish will be helpful? We already watch the news in French, our native language. If so, which TV channel?

Or some other video with content she can guess at based on visuals?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:12:45 again, with the kid struggling in Spanish 2.

Do you think watching the news in Spanish will be helpful? We already watch the news in French, our native language. If so, which TV channel?

Or some other video with content she can guess at based on visuals?

Thanks.

Look up News in Slow Spanish - more easily kept up with!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12:45 again, with the kid struggling in Spanish 2.

Do you think watching the news in Spanish will be helpful? We already watch the news in French, our native language. If so, which TV channel?

Or some other video with content she can guess at based on visuals?

Thanks.

Look up News in Slow Spanish - more easily kept up with!

Ooh, great idea. Thanks, PP.

[Anonymous]

She may be beyond this, but as an adult learner trying to learn Spanish from scratch, this youtube channel of animated preschool songs and cartoons was actually more helpful to me than watching other Spanish shows.

https://www.youtube.com/c/SuperSimpleEspanol/featured?app=desktop&themeRefresh=1

Many shows on streaming you can switch the audio and subtitles to either Spanish or English.

I used to use Duolingo a lot and found it worked better for me than any previous language classes. Unfortunately, their grammar instruction is inadequate. In the past, that weakness was offset by the chance to ask questions on their discussion boards and get answers from a community of fellow language learners and native speakers, but they’ve eliminated that feature. Duolingo might still be a viable option for your daughter, as she could get grammar guidance from her teacher. Duolingo also offers stories and podcasts.

Because of the grammar issues, I’ve been looking for alternatives and am considering Fluencia, but it’s a fee-based service and I haven’t tried it yet. There might also be language learning programs available through your public library. Montgomery County public libraries offer Rosetta Stone, but personally, that didn’t work for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC started HS this year and is taking Spanish 3. All our friends and neighbors watered us about Spanish being a painful class. We were ready to hire a tutor since Spanish 2 was painful in MS and DC is more STEM-focused kid. DC had first week of school and is telling us that Spanish curriculum is simplified and looks like review of Spanish 2. This past June MCPS conducted or survey of kids opinions of languages. I'm curious to know if MCPS took that feed back and modified the curriculum.

I would truly be surprised if MCPS did a complete overhaul over the summer without communication. But who knows. The curriculum for Spanish 3 is supposed to be the same at all HSs in the county. You should have your DC ask the teacher or department head.

You should also assume the first 2 weeks is review. New material will come, but may be in the same "units" the students have had before. E.g., food, people, etc. That doesn't mean it's the same material.

[Anonymous]

Yes Spanish 3 has a new curriculum this year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my child's school Spanish III already seems pretty difficult and this is for a child who was fine with the Spanish II teacher speaking only Spanish and got As in that class without studying.

In my kids Spanish 2 class teacher speaks exclusively Spanish and gave them a list of 600+ words from Spanish 1 that they're expected to know by week #2. The kicker is about 30% of these words weren't covered in Spanish 1.

[Anonymous]

Interesting- DC is in Spanish 4 this year as a freshman and complaining that thy have already learned most of what is on the syllabus last year…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes Spanish 3 has a new curriculum this year

Are details available somewhere?