The World Language Department at Park strongly believes that language and culture are deeply intertwined and has designed the language curriculum to reflect this belief. Culture and language together give one insight and understanding of the people who speak the language. Students at all levels of language demonstrate their understanding and skills in all areas of language: speaking, listening, reading, writing, and cultural understanding. 21 World Languages Department “I believe that learning about different cultures in Spanish class is equally important to learning and excelling in the language itself. I feel very grateful to have gotten this education here at Park.” - Melanie Giallella, Grade 12 Paige Melin, K-12 French: In Lower School French, one of our favorite times of the year is Mardi Gras! K-4 students in exploratory French classes learn the history, traditions, and symbolism of Mardi Gras during our class celebrations. At the younger levels, students learn the basics along with the song, “J’aime la galette.” Music is a wonderful way for young students to practice pronunciation while having fun. We practice the words and dance moves to reinforce the meaning and activate whole-body learning, which is proven to increase retention, memory, and overall understanding. At the older levels, students learn more about the history of Mardi Gras and how it’s currently celebrated in New Orleans, France, and Québec. This deeper study allows for curricular connections with their core social studies curriculum, to compare and contrast their communities with others. Rocio Fritz-Kelley, Middle School Spanish: The first project in the 5th Grade focuses on Spanish-speaking countries. Each student researches important information about their chosen country, including the capital, president, population, national flag, typical sports, traditional foods, celebrations, dances, and popular places. Through this project, students learn that Spanish is the thirdmost popular language in the world. This project goes beyond cultural awareness by shaping students’ beginning speaking skills. In preparing and presenting in Spanish, students practice pronunciation, complete sentences, and basic conversational patterns. The cultural content gives meaningful context to the language, making vocabulary more memorable and purposeful. This approach builds confidence, encourages authentic language use, and helps students see Spanish as a living language connected to people and cultures around the world. Beth Anne Jeswald, Department Chair, Middle and Upper School French: Everyone’s favorite project is the 8th grade Un repas Français! This project blends culture, language, family, and life skills in a fun and challenging way. Students must research authentic recipes from an area in the French-speaking world, then shop for, prepare, and serve the meal to their families. The unit’s grammar - past tense, expressions of quantity, and the partitive article - along with the food and meal vocabulary are incorporated into the final project. Students are given grades by their family members on the meal production to keep them motivated at home! The final step is to present their experiences to the class in French and to answer questions from their classmates, in French. Bon Appétit!
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