Learning Languages by Teaching Them to Younger Students
A great education can start by learning that a German dog says, “wau wau.”
A group of foreign language students from Kearney High School visited classrooms at all four Kearney School District elementary schools to lead 20-minute lessons in Spanish and German for the younger students.
Second graders across the district learned about things like how Christmas is celebrated in Spain and how animals sound in German.
KHS foreign language teachers Stacey Getz and Brittini Starzl created this project to help their students make a difference while earning a Seal of Biliteracy when they graduate, according to Kearney School District’s Career Readiness Coordinator Stacy Holtzclaw.
“In the past, our students have completed essays as part of the process of qualifying for the Seal of Biliteracy,” Mrs. Holtzclaw said. “This year, instead, they did cultural research, developed lesson plans and visited the elementary schools to share their knowledge with those students.”
The Seal of Biliteracy is an award recognizing students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation, and it is one of the market value assets Kearney students can earn as they pursue their college and career goals.
A number of colleges, universities and businesses offer incentives for students who have earned the seal. At Missouri State University, for instance, students with the seal can earn foreign language credits without having to take those classes.
Having the high school students teach at the elementary schools also helps nurture interest in studying foreign languages among younger classes, Holtzclaw added, and aligns with KSD’s goal to foster future public educators.
Courtesy of Ray Weikal, Kearney School District director of communications and community relations