Spanish

At The Pennfield School, Spanish is more than a subject—it’s a journey.

Beginning in preschool, students are immersed in the Spanish language through songs, stories, numbers, cultural materials, and basic vocabulary. These playful, engaging lessons spark early language acquisition and cultural curiosity.

As students move into Lower School (Kindergarten to 5th grade), they build on this foundation through interactive activities including games, music, literature, and student-created skits. Emphasis is placed on developing speaking skills and a strong vocabulary base. By 4th and 5th grade, students are preparing for more formal Spanish instruction, with increasing exposure to Latin American geography and cultural topics provides real-world context for the students.

In Middle School (6th to 8th grade), Spanish becomes a daily academic subject focused on oral proficiency and grammar. Students gain command of verb conjugations (AR, ER, IR, stem-changing, reflexive, preterite), articles, adjectives, and complex sentence structures. Projects and class discussions integrate U.S.–Latin America relations, and each year brings deeper cultural exploration—highlighting countries such as Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, and Chile.

By 8th grade, students demonstrate mastery through independent Spanish projects. Students gain confidence in reading, writing, and speaking. Many also choose to participate in the National Spanish Exam and Pennfield’s Spanish Honor Society, engaging with the wider community and showcasing their linguistic confidence.

Thanks to this comprehensive and rigorous program, most Pennfield graduates are placed into Spanish 2 Honors or Spanish 3 upon entering high school—well prepared, globally minded, and ready to thrive.

Additionally, every other spring, Middle School students have the opportunity to travel to a Spanish-speaking country during March Break. These immersive international trips, which have included destinations such as Guatemala and Costa Rica, allow students to practice their language skills in real-world settings, live with host families, and participate in community service projects—deepening both cultural awareness and global citizenship.