By Cindy Alvarado, Spanish Teacher
In our current unit in MYP Spanish II Non-Heritage class, Clemente sophomore students have been practicing their interactive oral skills with their peers daily, in preparation for interacting with our Spanish speaking/ELL students next 
week in a cultural and linguistic exchange. Last week, students were presented with new vocabulary related to their school subjects, schedules, and supplies with a focus on their school culture in the United States. This week, students are practicing listening comprehension and responding verbally by creating dialogues and interviews, and asking and answering questions about their school life, schedules, favorite classes and school in general. Students will be assessed on IB Criterion C: Communicating in response to spoken language, Phase 2. They are also asked to communicate with a sense of audience, from peers to teachers and parents.
Integrating ATL self-management skills into this unit, students will also be conducting research on school systems in specific Spanish speaking countries and then organizing their findings. Their next step will be to reflect on the similarities and differences between their school life and culture in the United States with that of a school in a Spanish-speaking country. Finally, students will determine how their school culture impacts how they learn and who they are.
Although it is still early in the unit, students are enjoying the opportunity to get up and interact verbally with their peers in the classroom. Listen for yourselves! Would you say their interactions are limited or detailed?