We begin by focusing on the development of receptive skills (listening and mimicking) before focusing on speaking and writing. In preschool, Spanish is fully integrated into the curriculum by having at least one Spanish-speaking teacher in each classroom - Gloria Argueta, Carmen Gerughty and Gladys Miyahira. These teachers use a variety of educational approaches throughout the school day to teach Hispanic culture and common Spanish phrases including songs, games, music and stories.

In elementary school, students meet twice a week to develop a sense of the rhythms and rhymes of Spanish and build a foundation of basic vocabulary and simple sentence structures. They continue to be exposed to the cultures of Spanish-speaking communities. The emphasis is on listening and speaking. Toward the end of elementary school, students begin more formal reading and writing practice to prepare them for our middle school program.

In middle school, the Spanish program focuses more on grammar, reading stories, writing and conversation. Students use transactional language (ordering in a restaurant, asking for directions), practice social skills (offering and accepting invitations, deciding which move to watch), express views on issues of concern (the environment, music, sports) and tell stories of events in the past and plans for the future. Middle school Spanish classes meet four times a week. CDS students will graduate eighth grade prepared to participate in a high-level academic Spanish program in high school.