After speaking Spanish for almost twenty years (I guess I am giving you a clue to my age) and speaking Spanish at home with my husband, I was curious to see what I would score on a proficiency test.
How does a teacher go about finding out his/her level of proficiency? Well, the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) just tells you if you pass the exam or not based on the overall score which they have set at 240. It does not indicate what oral proficiency level the teacher needs to have since the oral section is only scored on a 1-4 point scale. It is hard to really assess the teacher's ability with only one oral sample. Interestingly enough, Pearson Education, Inc. makes the exam. I guess they are the ones who correct it, too? Not sure.
However, there are two internationally well known exams that you can take. The first test is called OPIc which stands for Oral Proficiency Interview - Computer. It is a test administered and correct by ACTFL, America's leading foreign language institution. Salem State University where I did my teacher educator program does tell its candidates what level they expect in order to be granted a degree (Advanced-Low), and the school is an ACTFL testing site as well. (Click here for a link to the descriptions of the various proficiency levels set by ACTFL.) http://www.languagetesting.com/scale.htm
There is another test that also determines proficiency levels. It's called the Diploma de Espanol como Lengua Extranjera, or the DELE. (www.dele.org) The Instituto Cervantes administers it, the University of Salamanca creates and corrects it, and the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport supports it. For the highest level C2, there are three different exams - (1) the use of language, and reading/listening comprehension (2) integrated skills: listening and reading comprehension, and written expression and interaction (3) integrated skills, reading comprehension, and oral expression and interaction. It definitely looks challenging.
Ultimately, it was much more convenient for me to take the OPIc at Salem State because it's not as expensive ($65 vs $161) or as long (40 minutes vs 90 minutes) as the DELE. I got to the language lab at Salem State, and logged in. I had to fill out a background questionnaire in which I identified what level I thought I was at, what job I currently have, and some of my interests. I felt as if I could handle a variety of situations, both formal and informal, concrete and abstract - especially since I have worked and studied in Spanish for many years now so I checked the highest level. Then, I chose education for my job. The last section I was told was really the most important. The key is to pick topics that you know that you can speak the most about. I chose cooking, dancing, music, and travelling internationally for pleasure. Even though I do participate in sports and other recreational activities, I felt as if I did not have sufficient vocabulary to be able to carry on a conversation so I clicked that I do not participate in anything.
After a warm-up question about the weather, the test began. The avatar, Ana, asked me several questions about my family and what my responsibilities were in the household. The questions grammatically got harder, and it was a matter of trying to recognize what they are testing. Also, the length that I was expected to speak got longer and longer with the longest being 2 minutes. The next group of questions concerned food. Since I am the principal cook in the house and familiar with Colombian cuisine, I really felt confident in those sections. I was asked what I like to cook (Colombian food!!), when was the last time I cooked and what, and when was the last time that a meal didn't go as well as I had hoped. The next section then got more serious as I had to start talking about the economy. I mentioned the crisis in Spain for that one. There was also a question about what role the government should take in managing the economy. Since this was right before the presidential election, it was not hard for me to think of something to say. Finally, I was asked to talk about issues inside of our own borders. I talked about the issues regarding immigration. I felt confident overall except one question where I spaced out halfway through forgetting what the question was. I just kept talking about the topic instead of leaving dead air. Overall, there were 17 questions. My results will come back in about two weeks or so. I look forward to seeing what they are.
After taking the exam, I had a new understanding of exactly what it must be like for an student to take the AP Spanish exam. Especially the new exam that they are putting out in 2014. I think it's a good idea for all Spanish teachers to take it so we know what exactly is expected of us and as well as our students. With better insight, we can better prepare our students to pass the AP Exam with high scores and to obtain high levels of proficiency that will serve them well in college, the workplace, and the world.
Showing posts with label language. Show all posts
Showing posts with label language. Show all posts
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Tips for Advocacy: Spanish Clubs
A
language club is a great way to enhance your foreign language program. It shows
that your language department as an important member of the school community,
and it provides a great place for passionate language students to network and socialize
with others who have common interests. It's also a great way to get publicity
for the department. Get your administration to stop by a meeting or have a
student write something about what they do in the school newspaper. Finally,
it’s a way you too can connect with the community. The more people know about
the language club and the program in general, the more support that will come
your way.
1. Club Day
Most schools have a day where the students can showcase what their club does in the hopes of recruiting more people to join. First, get the students to create posters and flyers. It's a great way for the members to get to know each other. It's also a good time to figure out who your student leaders are going to be for that year. This is very important since many of the students are both motivated by the subject and the possibility of having a leadership role for their college application. Remember these are the possible foreign languages teachers of the future.
3. Social Issues
It’s important to have foreign language students really become global citizens. To do that, it’s important to tackle some important social issues in different areas of the world. Provide examples of passionate people who used their language skills to help people in need. We need to provide positive role models for the teenagers today so they can use language to make the world a better place.
One day, last year, we had a great discussion about social issues pertaining to Latin America. One of them had to do with TOMS shoes. Yes, the new "hot" must have shoe. After watching some of the videos about the company, the students were about ready to save the world. Do you know the origins of TOMS shoes? If not, then check this video out. After, you will understand why the logo is white and blue.
Both these videos provide examples of passionate people who used their language skills to be able to help people in need. I hope (and relatively sure) that both Drew and Blake can speak Spanish.
4. Movie Night
Use the student’s time effectively by showing movies that students would not watch on their own. Of course, make sure it is age-appropriate and something that they can handle yet leaves the student with something to think about. These movies can leave a lasting impact on the student for years to come.
We had two movie nights, and both were a success. The first semester we watched "Bajo la Misma Luna", and the second one we watched, "The Way". The first movie dealt with immigration along the US-Mexico border, but since it was from the point of view of a young boy, it wasn't as politically charged as a documentary might be. The other movie we watched was "The Way". As a treat, I made a torta de Santiago in honor of the Way of Saint James which is the name of the pilgrimage in Spain that ends in Santiago de Compostela. The students loved the cake, and it made an ordinary movie extraordinary.
5. Work on a project
The first year of my first language club I had only four girls, but they came every week because they were invested in a video that we were making.
It gave them a reason to come back week after week, and they were proud of
their final product. The following year these girls became our leaders. When the
students saw the video, more of them wanted to become a part of the club.
I had gotten the idea from another teacher who submitted a video of her student drawing pictures that matched the lyrics of the song "Latinoamerica" by Calle 13. I chose to do the same with "Pobre Juan" by Mana. Once the girls translated it and began to draw the pictures, they really came to understand the meaning of the song. People from all over the country have commented on their video. I hope to do more in the future. Use the Spanish Club for the things we don't have time to do in class.
Latinoamerica video project: http://zachary-jones.com/zambombazo/video-calle-13-latinoamerica-dibujos/
Pobre Juan video project: http://youtu.be/TySY2y3hkNU
6. Games
While traveling, I found about games that people play in other countries. Bring those games into the classroom. This year, I hope to teach my students how to play dominoes which is a popular pastime in the Caribbean. I have also bought trompos which are good classic toys from years ago. Also, we are thinking of having a petanque/boule/bocche/bochas/bolas criollas competition between the different languages clubs since they are share in this common pastime. We can even play traditional games like Bananagrams, Bingo, or Scrabble in the target language.
7. Food and Restaurants
Students enjoy food, but sometimes they need encouragement to try traditional dishes. That is where the language clubs come in to the rescue. If you can’t find what you need at a local store, then go online to see what is available. Also, talk to local restaurants in your area. It’s a great way to make connections in the community. They might do a special menu for the club, offer a discount or speak to the students about their cuisine.
Last year, I really made sure that students were getting access to real authentic food. They can buy chips and salsa whenever they want, but they probably won't buy sweet plantain chips on their own. How about Mexican chocolate? Or Colombian food? Living in the outskirts of Boston, I realize how lucky I am to have so much available to me at my local supermarket. The food I brought in was allergy free, usually healthy, and a crowd pleaser. Food always gets the kids interested.
At my new school, we have 3 restaurants within walking distance - two Mexican and one Argentinean. Find out if they would be willing to do something special for the students. I'm excited to try them out.
8. Art, Music, and Dance
High school students still enjoy coloring and drawing. There is something comforting in making something with your hands. Play music in the target language while the students work. Display their work for all to see. Talk to the art teachers to see if they are willing to help. Finally, contact a local dance studio to see if they would be interested in teaching a dance class.
The
responsibility of advising a club is really what you make of it. If you really
think outside the box, you can find plenty to do with a language club. This year, I will be starting the second Spanish Club in my career, and I am excited about it. Sometimes, I think others shy away from the responsibility of advising a club because of the perceived "work" it might be. I am here to show you that it's really what you make of it. If you really think outside the box, you can find plenty to do with the Spanish Club. Below I am going to outline what I have done with my Spanish Club in the past as well as a few new ideas I have for my soon-to-be Spanish Club.
1. Club Day
Most schools have a day where the students can showcase what their club does in the hopes of recruiting more people to join. First, get the students to create posters and flyers. It's a great way for the members to get to know each other. It's also a good time to figure out who your student leaders are going to be for that year. This is very important since many of the students are both motivated by the subject and the possibility of having a leadership role for their college application. Remember these are the possible foreign languages teachers of the future.
 |
| What we used for Club Day |
2. Día de los Muertos
This one is a great activity to start the school year off with. Please, really do the holiday justice. Get your students to understand the origins of the Día de los Muertos and the symbolism behind the different cultural artifacts. Have them watch movies and then follow it up with a discussion. Also, a hands-on celebration really makes the event more memorable for them.
This one is a great activity to start the school year off with. Please, really do the holiday justice. Get your students to understand the origins of the Día de los Muertos and the symbolism behind the different cultural artifacts. Have them watch movies and then follow it up with a discussion. Also, a hands-on celebration really makes the event more memorable for them.
 |
| Last year, we got to have this decorate the cafeteria. |
 |
| Two years ago, we made an altar for a student who had passed away. |
It’s important to have foreign language students really become global citizens. To do that, it’s important to tackle some important social issues in different areas of the world. Provide examples of passionate people who used their language skills to help people in need. We need to provide positive role models for the teenagers today so they can use language to make the world a better place.
Another video that impacted the students a lot was a video about an NGO called Love-Futbol.
Both these videos provide examples of passionate people who used their language skills to be able to help people in need. I hope (and relatively sure) that both Drew and Blake can speak Spanish.
4. Movie Night
Use the student’s time effectively by showing movies that students would not watch on their own. Of course, make sure it is age-appropriate and something that they can handle yet leaves the student with something to think about. These movies can leave a lasting impact on the student for years to come.
We had two movie nights, and both were a success. The first semester we watched "Bajo la Misma Luna", and the second one we watched, "The Way". The first movie dealt with immigration along the US-Mexico border, but since it was from the point of view of a young boy, it wasn't as politically charged as a documentary might be. The other movie we watched was "The Way". As a treat, I made a torta de Santiago in honor of the Way of Saint James which is the name of the pilgrimage in Spain that ends in Santiago de Compostela. The students loved the cake, and it made an ordinary movie extraordinary.
 |
| Torta de Santiago |
The first year of my first language club I had only four girls, but they came every week
I had gotten the idea from another teacher who submitted a video of her student drawing pictures that matched the lyrics of the song "Latinoamerica" by Calle 13. I chose to do the same with "Pobre Juan" by Mana. Once the girls translated it and began to draw the pictures, they really came to understand the meaning of the song. People from all over the country have commented on their video. I hope to do more in the future. Use the Spanish Club for the things we don't have time to do in class.
Latinoamerica video project: http://zachary-jones.com/zambombazo/video-calle-13-latinoamerica-dibujos/
Pobre Juan video project: http://youtu.be/TySY2y3hkNU
6. Games
While traveling, I found about games that people play in other countries. Bring those games into the classroom. This year, I hope to teach my students how to play dominoes which is a popular pastime in the Caribbean. I have also bought trompos which are good classic toys from years ago. Also, we are thinking of having a petanque/boule/bocche/bochas/bolas criollas competition between the different languages clubs since they are share in this common pastime. We can even play traditional games like Bananagrams, Bingo, or Scrabble in the target language.
 |
| Trompo |
Students enjoy food, but sometimes they need encouragement to try traditional dishes. That is where the language clubs come in to the rescue. If you can’t find what you need at a local store, then go online to see what is available. Also, talk to local restaurants in your area. It’s a great way to make connections in the community. They might do a special menu for the club, offer a discount or speak to the students about their cuisine.
At my new school, we have 3 restaurants within walking distance - two Mexican and one Argentinean. Find out if they would be willing to do something special for the students. I'm excited to try them out.
 |
| Trying Colombian food |
High school students still enjoy coloring and drawing. There is something comforting in making something with your hands. Play music in the target language while the students work. Display their work for all to see. Talk to the art teachers to see if they are willing to help. Finally, contact a local dance studio to see if they would be interested in teaching a dance class.
Last year, we made "calaveras", "molas" and "ojos de Dios" for the art projects. My students really wanted to do a lip dub, and I think that would be a fun way to get them to learn songs in Spanish by heart.
Finally, we wanted to learn some dance steps. I found some videos from Just Dance and Dance Dance Revolution on You Tube. Much cheaper than bringing in the video console. Below is Asereje by Los Ketchup!
My list is not exhaustive, and I would love to see what things others do with their clubs so please share!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
My big fat Irish-Colombian Wedding
The best part about my wedding was how two very different families became one. It happened like this.
On Thursday, the men went to get their tuxes, and in no time, there was a mix of Spanish and English in the air. After, we bonded over pizza which make the rehearsal dinner the next night go much smoother since some people already had met.
On Friday, the rest of the Colombian family and friends were introduced, and they were the stars of the night. With everyone getting along so well, I knew that our wedding was going to be a great time. I was a bit worried about how the families would be, but Irish and Colombians are both fun groups so really I had nothing to worry about.
On Saturday, I picked up my sister-in-law for our hair appointments. One of my good friends who is also Colombian needed a ride down to the church so I picked her up, too. It was great because she could help my sister-in-law who spoke no English. I got back to my parent's house and got dressed. I was cool as a cucumber because I've never been one of those Bridezilla-types.
We made it to the church in time to hearing the bagpipes playing. My bridesmaids were all dressed in green because that was the color of my Colombian emerald which is also the same color that symbolizes my Irish heritage. My dress was Spanish inspired with lots of lace, and I wore a mantilla veil to match. Since both our families are Catholic, we had a full Mass. It was really meaningful to the both of us. My wedding band is actually from Ireland, and it is adorned with the Trinity knot. I love telling the story of my rings to people because it is so unique just like my husband and I. Plus, it's a way to carry Colombia and Ireland with me everywhere I go.
We had a great time taking the wedding party by limousine to the reception which was at the Westin Hotel. Again, the cultural theme was present throughout. The place cards were placed in trays and held up with whole coffee beans. The favors were spice jars filled with Starbucks Colombian coffee, and the tags said, "Thanks a latte". Our DJ lit the room up with a green backdrop, and he played American, Irish, and Latin music for us to dance to. Our cake also fit with the theme. The bottom layer was chocolate cake with Bailey's Irish Creme mousse. The second layer we offered our guests was a white cake with mango mousse. It was decorated with Irish shamrocks and coffee beans covered in chocolate.
My goal was to make this a wedding to remember. I wanted to highlight the things that make my husband and I special. I wanted it to be a learning experience for others as well. I think that I accomplished that. When I had the chance to observe what was going on at my wedding, it made me smile. Love broke down the language and cultural barriers that existed. People found joy in the universal language of love and celebrated by dancing the night away. I couldn't have asked for anything more. It was the wedding of my dreams.
On Thursday, the men went to get their tuxes, and in no time, there was a mix of Spanish and English in the air. After, we bonded over pizza which make the rehearsal dinner the next night go much smoother since some people already had met.
On Friday, the rest of the Colombian family and friends were introduced, and they were the stars of the night. With everyone getting along so well, I knew that our wedding was going to be a great time. I was a bit worried about how the families would be, but Irish and Colombians are both fun groups so really I had nothing to worry about.
On Saturday, I picked up my sister-in-law for our hair appointments. One of my good friends who is also Colombian needed a ride down to the church so I picked her up, too. It was great because she could help my sister-in-law who spoke no English. I got back to my parent's house and got dressed. I was cool as a cucumber because I've never been one of those Bridezilla-types.
We made it to the church in time to hearing the bagpipes playing. My bridesmaids were all dressed in green because that was the color of my Colombian emerald which is also the same color that symbolizes my Irish heritage. My dress was Spanish inspired with lots of lace, and I wore a mantilla veil to match. Since both our families are Catholic, we had a full Mass. It was really meaningful to the both of us. My wedding band is actually from Ireland, and it is adorned with the Trinity knot. I love telling the story of my rings to people because it is so unique just like my husband and I. Plus, it's a way to carry Colombia and Ireland with me everywhere I go.
We had a great time taking the wedding party by limousine to the reception which was at the Westin Hotel. Again, the cultural theme was present throughout. The place cards were placed in trays and held up with whole coffee beans. The favors were spice jars filled with Starbucks Colombian coffee, and the tags said, "Thanks a latte". Our DJ lit the room up with a green backdrop, and he played American, Irish, and Latin music for us to dance to. Our cake also fit with the theme. The bottom layer was chocolate cake with Bailey's Irish Creme mousse. The second layer we offered our guests was a white cake with mango mousse. It was decorated with Irish shamrocks and coffee beans covered in chocolate.
My goal was to make this a wedding to remember. I wanted to highlight the things that make my husband and I special. I wanted it to be a learning experience for others as well. I think that I accomplished that. When I had the chance to observe what was going on at my wedding, it made me smile. Love broke down the language and cultural barriers that existed. People found joy in the universal language of love and celebrated by dancing the night away. I couldn't have asked for anything more. It was the wedding of my dreams.
 |
| Sr. y Sra. Toro |
 |
| Exactly how I imagined |
 |
| My unique rings |
 |
| My favors |
 |
| The cake |
 |
| By JClements Photography |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)