World Language - Spanish for Fluent Speakers

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Spanish for Fluent Speakers (SFS) Courses allow native or heritage speakers of Spanish to continue to develop all skills of Spanish in an accelerated manner commensurate with their skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It recognizes the natural skill of both native/heritage speakers who were born in the U.S. and never had formal education in a Spanish-speaking country, or students who may have come from a Spanish-speaking country and due to many circumstances may not have had the opportunity to receive formal education, or who had interrupted formal education, yet are proficient in their understanding and speaking of Spanish for interpersonal purposes. Specific written identification procedures ensure appropriate identification of native/heritage speakers based on objective criteria such as a student's Home Language Survey, transcript analysis, and/or a common student interview/questionnaire as is applicable. A PWCS pre-assessment allows teachers to determine each student's skill level and appropriate placement, or a Placement Test should be administered to all students prior to being put into a course. Students entering the fluent speakers sequence having started the traditional Spanish courses for non-native/heritage speakers, should also be assessed prior to placement. Even if a student were in regular/traditional Spanish 1 and 2, it is recommended to place them in SFS 1.

Students may earn a world language credit for this course as allowed by the Virginia Department of Education. The goal is for both native/heritage and non-native speakers of Spanish to learn together in the Advanced courses beyond Level 3 in high school. Research studies show a direct correlation with the higher skills in a student's first language and their facility to learn English faster and to a higher level. Traditional language courses are created for non-native/heritage speakers of the language.

Courses

Spanish for Fluent Speakers 1 - Beginning Level

Credits 1

This course is designed for Spanish-speaking students at the high school level. It recognizes the natural skill of native/heritage speakers who were born in the U.S. and never had formal education in a Spanish-speaking country, or students who may have come from a Spanish-speaking country and due to many circumstances may not have had the opportunity to receive formal education, yet are proficient in their understanding and speaking of Spanish for interpersonal purposes. The course will build on these existing listening and speaking skills, and develop basic reading and writing skills, with an emphasis on grammatical concepts. The course will try to tap the natural potential of native/heritage speakers to focus on enhancement of skill acquisition in general, especially emerging literacy, instill pride in a rich heritage, and allow students to succeed to their full potential.

Spanish for Fluent Speakers 2 - Intermediate Level

Credits 1

This course is designed for Spanish-speaking students at the high school level. This level is for Spanish-speaking native/heritage speakers who have some proficiency in all skills, to include listening, speaking, reading, and writing, but at a level commensurate with students who have had interrupted or limited formal schooling in a Spanish-speaking school. It also recognizes the natural skill of native/heritage speakers and emphasizes expansion and not replacement of the student's existing language skills. The course will continue to tap the natural potential of native/heritage speakers to focus on enhancement of skill acquisition, instill pride in a rich heritage, and allow students to succeed to their full potential. The course will also continue to build on existing listening and speaking skills, and especially continue to develop reading and writing skills.

Spanish for Fluent Speakers 3 - Advanced Level

Credits 1

This course is designed for Spanish-speaking students at the high school level who have had formal study of Spanish in a school setting in their native countries or have an Advanced level of literacy. The course continues to recognize the natural skill of native/heritage speakers and emphasizes expansion and not replacement of the student's existing language. The course will continue to tap the natural potential of native/heritage speakers to focus on enhancement of skill acquisition, instill pride in a rich heritage, and allow students to succeed to their full potential. The course will build on existing reading and writing skills and expand authentic readings by authors of the Spanish-speaking world and require Advanced compositions and projects.