Mrs. Gustafson’s Spanish Newsletter – November 2012
It is hard to believe it is November! It was great to meet with parents during Parent/Teacher conferences. The SJC students continue to work diligently in Spanish class. Their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills continue to improve in the target language.
The eighth graders learned how to make comparative statements in Spanish. They compared movies, people and food. They read about the Quinceanera celebrations in Peru and Puerto Rico. The 8th grade students studied vocabulary related to clothing, colors, seasons and shopping. They also learned how to say how much something costs in a store. The students continue to study stem-changing verbs (e-ie) or “boot verbs”. They enjoyed watching a video about Day of the Dead. It discussed the religious aspects of the holiday, their attitudes on death and the celebration of the day. Don’t forget that a great way to review vocabulary and grammar is the textbook website www.classzone.com. Check it out!
The seventh graders learned about vocabulary related to activities and food. They discovered that the verb ‘gustar’ is used to express likes and dislikes. The chapter also emphasized subject pronouns and the verb ‘ser’. Using the verb ‘ser’ the students learned how to state where people are from. We also talked about how Mexicans celebrate the lives of their ancestors on Day of the Dead by setting up altars and visiting graves. They decorated Calaveras or skulls with bright colors.
The sixth graders learned that nouns in Spanish are either masculine or feminine and that agreement is essential when writing a sentence. They studied the difference between tú and usted when greeting people and learned how to express origin. Vocabulary related to people and professions was introduced. The students identified professions of people and stated where they lived. They also named Spanish-speaking countries and stated where people were from. Subject pronouns and the verb ‘ser’ will be introduced in the next few weeks.
The 1st – 3rd graders continue to build on vocabulary by listening and repeating words. Songs, flashcards and books help reinforce new concepts such as greetings, numbers, colors and animals. Students have learned the sign of the cross and the Morning Prayer in Spanish. The 2nd graders enjoyed reading about Day of the Dead. It is so wonderful to see the students greet me in the hall with “hola” or “buenas tardes”! Their enthusiasm for learning a foreign language is evident when I am in their classrooms.
It’s great teaching your sons/daughters here at SJC! ¡Hasta pronto!
Mrs. Barb Gustafson
