World Languages

  • Bienvenue!          Wilkommen!          Bienvenido!  

     
    The World Languages Department at Elgin High School offers a full program of course work in the most popular foreign languages. French, German, Spanish, and Heritage Spanish language classes are offered at Elgin High School. All courses are two semesters per year. Honors distinction is offered at the third and fourth year levels of each language (except Heritage Spanish at this time).

    Seal of Biliteracy
     

    Assistant Principal of innovation 

    Matt Sugrue

    mathewsugrue@u-46.org ext. 8100
       Teachers

    Roberto Cardenas

    Spanish 3-4,5-6

    robertocardenas@u-46.org ext.8126

    Artemio Penalbert

    Dual Language

    artemiopenalbert@u-46.org ext.4857

    Juan Fernandez

    Spanish 1-2,AP Spanish Literature

    juanfernandez@u-46.org ext.4810

    Raul Castillo

    Spanish 3-4, AP Spanish Language

    raulcastillo@u-46.org ext.8127

    Elizabeth Plaskacz

    French 1-2,German 1-2

    elizabethplaskacz@u-46.org ext.7029

    Dea Zguro Saro

    Spanish 1-2,3-4

    deasarozguro@u-46.org ext.8123

    Juan Figueroa

    Dual Language

    juanfigueroa@u-46.org

    ext. 4857

    Yadira Rivera

    Dual Language

    yadirarivera@u-46.org

    ext. 4857

    Wendy Witt

    French 1-2/French 3-4/French 5-8

    wendywitt@u-46.org

    ext.8125

    Rachel Cornelius

    Spanish 3-4/Honors Spanish 3-4,5-6,7-8

    rachelcornelius@u-46.org

    ext. 8120

    Gloria Verastegui

    ESL 3,4,5/Spanish

    gloriaverastegui@u-46.org

    ext.4844

    First Year Courses:
    These classes lay the foundation of language acquisition for novice level learners. Focus is on listening, repetition of new sounds, vocabulary, basic grammatical structures, and introduction to the cultures of the countries in which the targets languages are spoken.


    Students will speak (alone and in groups), perform dialogues, read short selections (in both English and in the target language), and create original projects to demonstrate their knowledge. A textbook and workbook allow practice in class and at home. Some texts offer a CD-ROM version of the text and workbook as well. Audio materials allow students to hear native speakers and to imitate their speech. DVD’s provide audio and visual images to teach and motivate students.
     

    Second Year Courses:
    In keeping with the three state goals of foreign lanuage, the second year curriculum focuses on more advanced grammatical structures and additional vocabulary, and introduces students to more countries where the target lanuage is spoken. Students will continue to develop the skills from first year, with additional focus on writing skills. This component will become more of a focus as students’ knowledge of advanced grammatical structures are improved.
     

    Third Year Courses:
    Students at this level are asked to spend more time putting their acquired language skills to use through reading and writing, as they learn to perfect their understand of the grammar and vocabulary of their target language. Writing in the target language at this stage resembles the writing of an early elementary level student in his native language. Students should not expect their writing skills in the target language to equal their writing skills in their native language! They will continue to work on this skill as they matriculate through the language program.
     

    Fourth Year Courses:
    At this level, teachers ask their students to begin thinking and interacting the target language. Their reading and writing skills should become more proficient, which allows them greater comfort in the language classroom.