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| Image credit: WoodleyWonderworks |
One of the exciting additions to our curriculum this year is the Audio Program that corresponds to the ¡Avancemos! textbook. Among the course objectives was that students would be able to understand native Spanish speakers when speaking at a normal rate of speed. We have been working on the listening comprehension activities using the CDs for the textbook. This allows the students to become accustomed to accents from different Spanish-speaking countries, different voices and different rates of speed.
It is also hard! Have you ever tried to carry on a phone conversation with someone who had a strong accent? Our minds have to work much harder when we cannot rely on facial expressions, gestures or body language to help interpret what someone is saying. This is a skill that requires a great deal of practice, but it is worth the effort.
One of our students asked for extra opportunities to practice. There are several things you can do: talk to native Spanish speakers in your parish or neighborhood, listen to Spanish radio, watch a movie that you have already seen with the Spanish audio track, Youtube videos, and more. There are also some links at the ¡Avancemos! textbook site.
We will actively work to develop listening comprehension skills this year, both in classroom exercises and exams. Our goal is that students at All Saints will be able to understand and use Spanish in the classroom and beyond.
