Español Hablada Aquí

SJHHS offers 7 levels of Spanish classes, from Spanish I through Spanish for Spanish Speakers II. All 7 levels of Spanish fulfil the CUSD foreign language requirement of 10 credits by graduation.

Introductory levels focus on building the basic skills for success in the language, such as vocabulary and basic grammar.

“I really enjoy being in Spanish II because I get an extended knowledge of what I learned last year in Spanish I. It’s difficult, but cool to learn about the language and the cultures of Spanish speaking countries,” said Sid Piravi (9).

As students progress through the courses and eventually reach the AP levels IV and V or Spanish for Spanish Speakers, the classroom becomes a “Spanish only” zone and the focus shifts away from grammar and instead stresses cultural awareness, literary analysis, communication skills, and eloquence in speaking.

“AP Spanish V has been a fantastic experience in regards to my overall understanding and appreciation of hispanic culture. The class has not only allowed me to exercise the language in a practical, real world setting, but it also provides the opportunity to apply my speaking and writing skills to the analysis of the most influential works in Spanish literature,” said  Diego Bennett (12).

Although the district only requires students to complete 10 credits of a foreign language in order to graduate, there are incentives for continuing a foreign language beyond the requirement. The District’s Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to any student who either passes a foreign language AP test with a score of 3 or higher, passes the SAT II test for the language with a score of 600 or higher, or completes four years of the language with a 3.0 average.

“I get to work a group of diverse students, and I get to see them from the beginning of their Spanish careers at SJHHS. I see students progress, mature, and I just love watching them become bilingual, bicultural, and biliterate students,” said teacher, Fernanda Villalba.

Any student who is interested in learning about the culture of Spanish speaking countries or has a desire to improve their skills in another language should consider enrolling in Spanish at SJHHS.