EL MUNDO REAL NEWSLETTER FOR CGWA SPANISH CLASSES
Issue #1
El Mundo
Real
Newsletter for
CGWA Spanish
classes
PHOTO TAKEN BY SR. MCMAINE IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, JULY 2015
AUGUST 2016 ISSUE
Welcome to Spanish class
by Sr. McMaine
I am very excited about starting the new year
with returning Spanish scholars as well as
new Spanish scholars. Our goal is to provide
a positive environment in which to acquire
Spanish as well as opportunities to practice
Spanish.
Literacy and Reading
Since one of our focuses here at Carter G.
Woodson Academy is to promote literacy,
there will be a literacy component in every
Spanish level. Please encourage scholars to
read both in Spanish and in English. I will
share both suggested readings and required
readings with you throughout the semester.
Readings in Spanish will be based on scholar
proficiency levels, so early levels will have
very simple readings.
Guest Speakers
One of the goals of the Carter G. Woodson
Spanish class is to help scholars connect with
the community at large. If you know of
anyone who speaks Spanish, is connected to
the Spanish speaking community, or anyone
who would be interested in being a guest
speaker in our Spanish class, please let me
know at [email protected]
Additional Resources
Throughout the year, I will be sharing
Additional Resources for Spanish language
learning. Today’s focus is on
http://www.studyspanish.com/pronunciation
/ to help scholars practice pronunciation.
Interesting News and
Information
Proficiency based learning
To learn more about Proficiency based learning, visit
https://www.actfl.org/publications/guidelines-andmanuals/actfl-proficiency-guidelines-2012.
Please check out the latest news and
research on language learning in the
Interesting News and Information column.
Homework
Homework can be found at the Carter G.
Woodson website
(http://www.cgwacademy.fcps.net/) under
the homework tab. Please do not hesitate to
contact me with questions at
[email protected].
Language focus: Dr. Carter G
Woodson
Dr. Carter G. Woodson spoke fluent French. He taught in
the Philippines, traveled widely throughout Europe and
Asia, and studied at the Sorbonne University in Paris,
France. Dr. Carter G. Woodson also obtained a Master’s
degree in Romance Languages.
EL MUNDO REAL NEWSLETTER FOR CGWA SPANISH CLASSES |
Issue # 1
2
Interesting News
and Information
by Sr. McMaine
Article Review
The New Bilingualism: The
number of dual-language
programs in American high
schools is on the rise.
http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archi
ve/2016/08/the-new-bilingualism/494489/
The article above was published last
Thursday in The Atlantic. Among many
topics referenced in this article is the history
of language education in the United States.
It also references research that describes the
many benefits of bilingualism. A few quotes
from the article:

their peers who speak only one
language.”

“…(T)he Seal of Biliteracy also
looks good on a resume—for
college and beyond.”
For information about the Seal of
Biliteracy referenced in the article,
please visit this website:
http://sealofbiliteracy.org/.
“Widely cited research…has shown
that children who are bilingual
perform better academically than
QUOTE
“Widely cited research…has
shown that children who are
bilingual perform better
academically than their peers
who speak only one
language.”
NATALIE GROSS, AUGUST 4, 2016
Additional Resources
by Sr. McMaine
For practicing Spanish pronunciation:
http://www.studyspanish.com/pronunciation/
DuoLingo:
https://www.duolingo.com/
I recommend DuoLingo for self-study at home. It is very easy to use with a
smart phone, tablet, personal computer, laptop or other device.
News in Slow Spanish:
https://www.newsinslowspanish.com/
This is a spoken news program for Spanish learners. The conversation is
slowed and the website gives transcripts of what is spoken as well. Good for
fluency practice.