Language Acquisition- Spanish
An important part of the IB philosophy is global citizenship. A person’s capacity to engage on a global scale is determined by the languages they speak. At CLP, all students take Spanish every year! With over 35 million Spanish speakers in the U.S. alone, and almost 560 million Spanish speakers worldwide, Spanish is a language that is easily applied to our context here in northern Colorado. Additionally, knowing other languages helps with a child’s literacy in their first language. Students who know English and Spanish are able make better connections to what they read because many Spanish and English words have Latin roots. As part of our Spanish program, we support literacy skills by teaching reading comprehension strategies and writing skills, which can be transferred to any language.
Students receive high school credit for both of these pathways!
Spanish One or our "Beginning Track"
Spanish 1 is designed for students with no prior experience in the language, offering an introduction to Spanish communication and Spanish-speaking cultures. Through proficiency-based instruction, students will begin comprehending and interacting in comprehensible Spanish from the very first day. Using words, phrases, and simple sentences, they will learn to engage in spontaneous conversations, understand basic spoken and written texts, and present information on familiar topics in both spoken and written forms. The course emphasizes authentic communication and cultural awareness, helping students build confidence as they progress toward a Novice Mid to Novice High proficiency level. Instructional practices prioritize the acquisition of high frequency language in contexts appropriate for the novice level by creating a language rich environment that promotes meaningful engagement with the language over rote memorization and drills. Students will gain foundational language skills that prepare them for continued study and global engagement.
Spanish Two or our "Advanced Track"
Spanish 2 moves at a faster pace. Although we still go through all the basics before building more complex reading and writing skills, this track is for students who have some previous Spanish experience or who thrive with more academic challenge.
Students starting in the advanced track with receive credit for Spanish 1 and 2 after successfully completing 7th and 8th grade Spanish classes.
Summer International Experience
Our Spanish- Language Acquisition program offers a Summer Experience to Costa Rica or Spain.
Join your friends and classmates on an amazing adventure to use your Spanish and immerse yourself in Spanish or Costa Rican culture.