trevordayschool

that, "Creating synergies between material for the students at this age is key for their correct skills development." Learning a language is not just learning grammar rules and vocabulary. In classes, teachers introduce the cultural differences that exist among the 21 distinct Spanish-speaking countries. Señoras Rovelo and Muñoz also teach their students the importance of learning a second language, as it opens doors to knowing, appreciating, and understanding the world in a more nuanced way. Being bilingual or a polyglot helps promote a broader view for an individual's future in education, traveling, or their careers. As students learn another language and culture, they learn to evaluate their ways of thinking and viewing the world. When asked about teaching Spanish at Trevor, señoras Rovelo and Muñoz shared, "Being a Spanish teacher in a school like Trevor, which is so multicultural, gives us the opportunity to meet all types of students. It also makes it unique to teach your mother language and see how important it is for students to learn about other countries, cultures, and traditions." As students grow, they learn that language and culture work in concert. Because of this, students can more easily make connections to other people's cultural practices. Some examples: when they notice that their teachers have different speaking accents; when their neighbors celebrate different holidays; or when new friends sometimes call the same item by a different name. Students also learn that 21 countries speak Spanish, and each one promotes specific beliefs and practices relevant to their history. As with all other subjects, a key factor that gives students a passion for learning Spanish is to have teachers who love their profession, teach with excitement and creativity, and bring the love and respect 2 3 T R E V O R D AY S C H O O L n S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 – 2 0 2 2 of the target language and cultures into the classroom. Fourth grader Victoria V. has been taking Spanish at Trevor since early childhood and says, "something I really like about Spanish class is when we do activities like stickers or arts and crafts. I look forward to going every Tuesday and ursday." Having students who look forward to class is critical for teachers. Señoras Rovelo and Muñoz emphasize that "we always try to make learning Spanish so much fun at Trevor!" n

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