OUR APPROACHES

 

Bloom & Lahey Model

Lois Bloom and Margaret Lahey define the elements of language through the intersection of "Form, Content and Use." Our innovative and eclectic framework guides our students at All About Spanish through the development stages of learning a new language. This reinforces acquistion of new language content with integration of previous learned concepts.

 

Immersion Method

Teaching another language involves immersing students in the target language and developing increased cultural awareness while reaching a high level of academic achievement (Lenker & Rhodes, 2007). At All About Spanish we use the full immersion approach where 95% of the instruction is provided in the Spanish language.

 

Natural Approach

Foreign language can be taught and learned in two distinct ways: through acquistion or through learning. Acquistion requires a focus on meaning; on the other hand, learning requires a focus on form (i.e. grammar). According to the Natural Approach, children learn language only through acquisition and focuses on 'comprehensible input'; and when children are exposed to this input in low-anxiety contexts, acquisition is inevitable. Thus, teachers allow students multiple opportunities to understand the Spanish lanuguage through the use of multiple strategies such as visual aids, actions, gestures and illustrations (Krashen & Terrel, 1983.)

 

Total Physical Response Approach

Models the way children learn their first language. Gestures are a critical facet of this approach and in the classroom is played out by saying an action word and demonstrating that word simultaneously. Comprehension is expressed through gestures and happens without the use of translation. For example, the teacher says, "I touch my head," as she touches her head. Then she says "Now you (points to student) touch your head (while pointing to student's head)." In this way students are asked, through gesture, to respond physically to commands such as "sit down", "clap" etc. (Asher, 1982)

 

Waldorf Foreign Laguage Approach

Recognizes that foreign language learning should occur within an oral context through verse, song and activities including rhythm, dramatizations and situaltional dialouges. Through these activities, students learn vocabulary and language concepts. The thematic content of the curriculum is grounded in children's everyday experience. For example through nature, colors, the body, clothing, food, the home and family, numbers etc. (Stott, 1995)

 

Content Based Instruction Approach

It's a method of teaching foreign languages that integrates language instruction with the instruction in content areas. The foreign language is used as the medium for teaching subject content, such as mathematics or social studies, from the regular classroom curriculum. At All About Spanish we combine the goals of the Spanish language curriculum and regular curriculum, making language learning the vehicle for strengthening general skills and knowledge.