Schools vote to improve students’ Spanish fluency

By Tony Ku

It’s been said that teaching students the importance of foreign languages at a young age increases their odds of fluency.

If that’s the case, the Kyrene School District took one more step in enhancing its students’ ability to learn Spanish by voting 5-0 in favor of the Spanish Education Curriculum at the proposal’s required first reading.

The second, final reading will take place at the board meeting Tuesday, Feb. 10.

“Students will find real-life applications for utilizing their Spanish skills and knowledge,” said Lori Vanover, a Spanish instructor at Akimel Middle School.

The curriculum would present a guide for teachers that is aligned with what the state and federal governments deem necessary for success.

The passage of the curriculum didn’t go without some questions and concerns, however.

“Why aren’t we looking at offering Spanish in the first grade, when students are learning the most?” asked board member Slade Mead, who immediately received applause from a group of foreign language instructors.

Another issue that was brought up for debate was the transition from middle school Spanish classes to high school classes.

At the heart of the matter was why middle school students were not successfully passing placement tests in order to be placed in high school-level Spanish.

“As a parent it’s very frustrating to hear that it (the Spanish curriculum) is middle-school appropriate and then being told that they (our students) aren’t ready for the test,” said board member John Doney.

Vanover said that, for a variety of reasons, many students may not be ready for the exam, but this was a natural process when learning a foreign language.

“Our goal is to provide them a good foundation,” she said. “We’re really trying to prep them at the seventh and eighth grade levels and there will be some that are ready and others that will need more time.”

(back)