Spanish

Spanish is a crucial language for our pupils to learn; not just because it is the second most-spoken language in the world but because it supports the development of children’s phonics, being such a phonetically-friendly language. Our study of Spanish sparks intrigue into the culture of Hispanic countries amongst our pupils and readies them to be global citizens, equipped with the ability to speak to others from the 22 countries across four continents where Spanish is an official language.

At the heart of our teaching is linking; linking Spanish words with those in our students’ mother tongues and studying the etymology of words common in the other romance languages they study. This empowers pupils to take risks and to have fun with the language, avoiding the antiquated rote-learning approach. As our children move to their senior schools, this is the principal skill with which we wish them to leave; to be able to speak spontaneously, with whomever they meet, wherever that may be.

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Prep School

Day of dead masks

Spanish was introduced at Westbourne House in September 2019.

As a new subject to the curriculum, the first cohort of Spanish students are currently in Years 5 and 6. In Years 5 and 6, the children have three hours of Spanish lessons per week. We follow a beginners’ curriculum, also catering for those who have studied the language before or for native speakers who join us from different countries.

Language topics studied include, “All about me”, “My school” and “My hobbies” and cultural topics include “El Día de los Muertos”, “La Tomatina” and some culinary adventures too! We do not shy away from grammar. We learn how to form verbs, sentence structure and adjectival agreement to ensure the children can say what they want to and not have to depend on preformed language they don’t understand how to produce themselves.

Spanish

Beyond the classroom

The aim of teaching any language is to instil a love of not just the language but the culture of the countries where it is spoken. By exploring cultural differences and linguistic similarities, we hope Westbourne House linguists will be renowned for their broad-minded awareness and interest for other cultures, respecting different customs and comparing these to their “home” culture.

Links with schools in Spain, with whom we will offer an exchange in Year 7 or 8 are currently being established. Trips to events such as “The Language Show” in London are offered to enable all pupils to see the benefits learning languages brings and opportunities it creates.

Mrs Sleep

BA (HONS) MA ITALIAN AND SPANISH 2:1, UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS, PGCE (QTS) MODERN LANGUAGES, UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX

I have always loved languages, being taught my first (French) at pre-prep school age 4. Then followed Latin and subsequently Spanish and Italian. My knowledge and passion for languages has led me to live all over the world following the completion of my Master’s degree at the University of St Andrews in Italian and Spanish. I can now add conversational Mandarin to the list having lived in Shanghai for four years. I am English, and I am therefore hoping to destroy the stereotype us Brits have of speaking English loudly when on holiday (expecting to be understood) by inspiring the next generation to learn many languages by way of interactive, fun and inspiring lessons here at Westbourne House!