Pilot Program: Song & Story Foreign Language Immersion
Upper school parents often request that modern languages be taught to their students.
Research shows that the optimal time to introduce language is in the lower school. Students'
capacity for language acquisition is considerably higher at this time. Their upper school and
college language studies go farther and faster when they have a slow, steady foundation which
prioritizes input above output, discovery over production, and depth above breadth. A simple
addition to story time presents considerable long-term benefits for students’ memory and
language acquisition.
This reading plan is based on the language learning principles of Maria Montessori and
Charlotte Mason, and uses the “living books” common to most elementary classical reading
programs. A book or song is introduce at the beginning of each week in a 20 minute immersive
session that familiarizes the students with the beloved story and highlights special words with
movement. Teachers choose a 5-10 minute slot on subsequent days to play the song/ story of
the week. Review recordings allow the teacher to have a short break while the students listen
independently, or can be added to a story time. It is important that the students see the reader's
pronunciation and specific positions of the mouth used for new sounds. Then they “read” the
picture, accessing and strengthening their memory of the story, its meaning, and new sounds
and phrases. The element of repetition is beneficial for the students’ memory and immersive
listening skills, and also creates a cushion in which missing a day or two is no problem.
Laura Councell, Instructor
Holy Trinity Classical Christian School
843-522-0660
http://www.HTCCS.org
http://www.Facebook.com/HolyTrinityClassicalChristian
HTCommunication@HTCCS.org
302 Burroughs Ave, Beaufort, SC 29902
North of the Broad Hosted by Robyn Zimmerman
Filmed On Location at the Pat Conroy Literary Center
843-379-7025
http://www.PatConroyLiteraryCenter.org
http://www.Facebook.com/PatConroyLiteraryCenter
Jonathan@PatConroyLiteraryCenter.org
601 Bladen St, Beaufort, SC
October-November 2022
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