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Spanish classes are popular at Park Elementary
Loving languages
Herald Staff Writer
Photo by STEVE LEWIS/Herald
Fort Lewis College senior Spanish major Emily Lewis reviews the alphabet during an after-school Spanish class Nov. 11 at Park Elementary School. From left are kindergartner Lucas Parker, preschooler Asa Linn and kindergartners Lyric Kent and Emmet Thompson.
Ashworth and Brown, two of a number of students majoring or minoring in Spanish at Fort Lewis College, ran the students through the verbs and colors they've learned before breaking open the goodies.
The FLC students earn credit for their work.
About 45 kindergarten through fifth-graders are enrolled in Spanish, which is voluntary and starts when school lets out at 3 p.m., said Virginia Hedges, who teaches English as a second language. Six classes (fourth- and fifth-graders are combined) are offered to avoid a one-size-fits-all-ages approach, Hedges said.
The positive reception to after-school Spanish last spring prompted school leaders to offer another 10-week session in September, Hedges said. Plans call for starting another session in February, she said.
Catalina Aguilar, who teaches Spanish and Hispanic literature and culture at Fort Lewis College, was contacted last year about Spanish classes for Park Elementary students.
"The goal is to teach, according to grade level, material that parallels what students are seeing in their regular classes," Aguilar said. "That includes shapes and colors, an introduction to expressions and simple sentences. They also play games and sing songs in Spanish."
The atmosphere is low-stress, and no grades are given, Aguilar said. Each student has a workbook that contains the material seen in class so they can practice at home.
Spanish is the third language for at least a couple of youngsters studying with Brown and Ashworth. One girl speaks Chinese at home, and Quanah Abshire, 8, said he has learned Comanche from relatives.
Dawn Rymerson, who was waiting for daughter Autumn, 8, said Autumn has enjoyed the class immensely.
"She's really interested in learning Spanish because she has a couple of friends who speak the language," Rymerson said. "I'm very pleased, too."
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