World Languages
Spanish and Japanese
In the words of Rudolf Steiner, “The finer qualities of a people flow out of a language. The human being becomes more of a universal being when enabled to learn different languages.” That is why, beginning in grade one, Eastside Community School students have lessons in Spanish and Japanese.
Our study of foreign languages begins in much the same way that a child learns his mother tongue: through listening and imitation. Songs, games and stories are taught orally with the help of pictures and gestures. Grades four and five serve as a transition to the more academic, practical work of the upper grades, where conversation, grammar, written work and reading become increasingly important.
Learning languages from two completely different origins gives students a broader vision of the world, inspires a genuine interest in multiculturalism, and prepares them for a life where they will be better able to listen, understand and communicate with others.