4th Grade World Language

Spanish: Spanish in the Middle Division is filled with engaging projects and increasing interaction in the target language. They begin the year by presenting themselves through a video, answering questions like “Where are you from?” and “Where do you live?” Students continue to expand their vocabulary, particularly as it relates to Spanish-speaking countries, personal pronouns, and numbers. Cultural experiences, including a virtual visit from someone native to Lima, Peru, offer students the opportunity to connect to Spanish-speaking cultures and local communities. 

In the second semester, 4th graders read la novela Milo Está Enfermo and discuss cultural topics such as Bajada de Reyes, Nelson Mandela, Mardi Gras, Cinco de Mayo, Carnival in Rio 7 España, and more.

The use of interactive stories helps students further develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing. While learning to express themselves in real-life situations—such as agreeing, disagreeing, describing, and complimenting—they also begin to write paragraphs and study the geography of the Spanish-speaking world.

Mandarin: Students now gain the foundational tools they need to express themselves in Mandarin and understand lessons taught almost exclusively in Mandarin. The formal writing program, taught with Simplified characters in keeping with Mandarin programs at local high schools, begins in 4th grade. Students learn more characters and write five sentences at the start of every class, as well as their stroke order. They learn how to properly express time and to place it in the context of a sentence. Students learn vocabulary about “what’s in my backpack” and “what’s in my classroom” and practice new vocabulary in question-answer format. When learning about the family unit, students interview their family members and compile information about their family backgrounds, which is an extension of the lessons on nationality they experienced in 3rd grade. Lessons in immigration tie into their social studies work, including a field trip to Angel Island. Fourth graders learn to tell time in more detail, describe their daily routine, and deepen their reading comprehension skills.