Language

This sweet lesson about La Historia del Chocolate provided Spanish language students with a tasty exploration of chocolate’s rich history. Any lesson combining sensory experience with cultural and linguistic education makes for a memorable and enriching part of any learning journey.

Rachel treated us to an exquisite French Tea experience, showcasing her skill and knowledge in the art of tea preparation. She showed us her method of pouring the tea into cups and then back into the special French teapot, three times! This technique, she explained, enhances the flavor by allowing the tea to mix evenly, ensuring a well-balanced taste in every sip. The tea was refreshing, as Rachel used fresh mint leaves, and the tea was accompanied by an assortment of delectable sweets.

The French class was busy in the kitchen making Madeleines, traditional French shell-shaped sponge cakes known for their light, buttery texture. Madeleines have a rich history rooted in the Lorraine region of France. According to legend, they were named after a young maid, Madeleine Paulmier, who baked these delicate cakes for a royal banquet. Today, they remain a symbol of French baking artistry.

For the first time the advanced students enrolled in our Spanish humanities course took the Global Seal of Biliteracy exam.  All five passed, earning their certificates. We’d like to congratulate Xan, Viktor, Sadie, Olivia V, and Ebelin on their impressive achievement!

A note about the Global Seal of Biliteracy:
Awarded in more than 50 countries, the Global Seal of Biliteracy is a verifiable international certification that conveys proficiency with language skills in two or more languages for our qualifying candidates. This stackable certification offers a competitive advantage by empowering bilinguals with digitally shareable documentation that opens the door to scholarships, advanced course placement, increased study abroad opportunities and so much more. The Global Seal is and will be FREE for all.

Our “Latin Voices in the Valley” Advanced Spanish class welcomed local musician, Vladimir Espinosa, for a private visit. Vladimir is a multi-talented artist hailing from Havana, Cuba, who now resides in the Roanoke area. With expertise in music, acting, and choreography, he possesses well-rounded musical performance skills. In addition to demonstrating his percussion instruments, Vladimir also provided a detailed explanation of the history of afro-cuban music, entirely in Spanish. He performed a beautiful blend of music and singing, showcasing his remarkable talent. Our students were fortunate to have the opportunity to interact with Vladimir on such an intimate and educational level.

It’s always heartwarming to see how education brings people from different parts of the world together. In February 2018, CHS had the pleasure of hosting a group of French exchange students from the Saint Exupéry High School in Fameck. Now, the connection between the two schools is being rekindled as our CHS French students have started emailing with the students at Saint Exupéry.