Spanish 2

District 28's World Language Department conducted a review of our Spanish curriculum and programming in collaboration with Glenbrook North High School's World Language Department. As a result of the team’s ongoing collaboration and revision work, the Spanish 2 course pathway was created to replace the Honors course pathway.

Students in our district have an advantage over students in most districts because they start Spanish in 1st grade. When students continue language instruction through high school, they can reach an advanced low or advanced mid-level of proficiency by the time they graduate. Students can also earn the Seal of Biliteracy and AP credit and be prepared for successful language study in college and beyond. This advantage is realized by our students in either course pathway.

In both course pathways, emphasis is placed on using Spanish to communicate in a variety of ways. In the Spanish 1 course pathway, students engage in more structured language with predictable patterns, generally in the present tense. The Spanish 2 course pathway will include more spontaneous production of language and in-depth comprehension using present and past tenses. There is an expectation of practice and independence in the use of language that is required in the Spanish 2 course pathway to prepare for Spanish 3. Our goal for both pathways is for students to experience language learning in a way that will inspire and empower them to be curious, honor diversity and connection, and see themselves as lifelong language learners. 

Spanish 2 Course Pathway

Students in the Spanish 2 course pathway could take Spanish 273 (honors Spanish 2), Spanish 363 (Spanish 3), or Spanish 373 (Honors Spanish 3) during their freshman year.

Spanish 1 Course Pathway

Students in the Spanish 1 course pathway will generally take Spanish 263 or Spanish 273 (honors) during their freshman.

Decisions about placement into a course pathway will be based on:

• classroom achievement in 6th-grade Spanish on formative and summative assessments;

• homework completion and classroom participation, and

• proficiency levels on the STAMPe assessment, a nationally normed language assessment of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. This assessment will be taken during 6th-grade Spanish classes in April.

The Spanish 2 course pathway will begin for current 6th-grade students, beginning in their 7th grade school year. This pathway will then be available to future classes. Current 7th-graders (2023-2024) will continue in the current honor course pathway for the 2024-2025 school year. 

French course pathways will remain unchanged because students begin their study of French in 6th grade and do not have the necessary instructional minutes to develop the prerequisite skills needed for French 2 in junior high. The honors course pathway in French will continue unchanged.