Foreign Languages

Spanish

All K/6 students participate in weekly Spanish vocabulary and cultural lessons throughout the school year. These students also enjoy one semester of Chinese vocabulary, character writing, and cultural lessons each year.

In the younger grades, Spanish is incorporated into morning circle. Through song, movement, and repetition, the students learn the days of the week, colors, numbers, and how to introduce themselves in the Spanish language. Other vocabulary words are introduced throughout the year.

Starting in 2nd grade, students participate in more formal Spanish lessons twice a week. An emphasis is placed on developing a conversational vocabulary. Students often work in pairs, practicing the pronunciation of vocabulary words, engaging in dialogue, or reading Spanish picture books aloud together. Older students learn to conjugate verbs, translate text, and utilize new vocabulary in class discussion. By the time students are ready to graduate from TLC, they have a firm understanding and appreciation of the Spanish language.

Chinese

Chinese lessons are taught by a native speaker and follow a similar format, but are only taught one semester during the school year for students in grades K-6. Students are exposed to the sounds, pinyin characters, and cultural experiences of China during this yearly study.

After years of exposure to both languages, students in 7th and 8th grades have a choice of taking Spanish or Chinese as their year-long foreign language study.

Other Language experiences

TLC offers an after-school Latin club for students in grades 6-8.

Students in grades K-8 learn American Sign Language and enjoy yearly visits from local deaf persons in our community. Many of our students are fluent in sign language when they graduate 8th grade.