Foreign Language

Elyse Marcus-Simons
Secondary Spanish Instructor
English Instructor

ECDS foreign language courses continue the four language skills introduced in the lower school (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), with an emphasis on oral communication and listening comprehension. Upon completion, students are able to perform monologues and dialogues, make descriptions, ask questions, and express simple opinions.            

Spanish 1 Grade Level

7/8 Prerequisite: None
Note: Fulfills UC/CSU Requirements: Yes
This introductory course familiarizes students with Spanish language and cultures through a series of linguistic activities and cultural topics, which enable the students to communicate about daily activities at a functional level. Curriculum is based on the California World Language Framework, and activities are chosen for their personal significance to the students, thereby providing an aspect of spontaneity to communication. At the end of the course, the student will be able to understand, speak, read, and write about basic daily activities, high frequency expression, and make him/herself understood by a sympathetic native speaker.

Spanish II

Grade Level: 7/8
Prerequisite: Spanish 1 with a grade of “C” or better
Note: Fulfills UC/CSU Requirements: Yes
This course expands on the linguistic activities and cultural topics of Level I, and enables students to communicate about daily activities at a functional level. Curriculum is based on the California World Language Framework, and activities are chosen for their personal significance to the students, thereby providing an aspect of spontaneity to communication. The course of study is more in-depth, including several verb tenses, idioms, and expanded vocabulary.