During the many years of foreign language teaching in the New Haven Public Schools much of the curriculum has been geared for the high school students, until, a limited version of foreign study was introduced in the middle schools under the camouflage of “exploratory” classes. This was done without reference to the different students of middle school age. Fortunately, and through the concerted efforts of talented and dedicated educators, the middle school curriculum is steadily being revised and improved. This unit represents part of a long range goal to extract the teaching of Spanish and Latin American Studies from its traditional mold and place it in a more comprehensive perspective via the study of contemporary places, people and issues that will heighten students’ awareness and knowledge of cultural diversity. One might speculate that a unit limited in scope cannot accomplish such a goal. But it is indubitably a firm step in the right direction, especially when one considers the paucity of non-pedantic and non-book oriented material available for foreign languages and cultures. This unit is an eclectic approach which can be adapted for Spanish classes, bilingual situations and others.
There exists in education a crucial socio-cultural and educational imperative in the curriculum and philosophy of our schools which involves contemporary cognizance and knowledge of our neighboring Spanish speaking countries. Classroom teachers and educators need to demonstrate a renewed effort to put the study of other cultures in its proper perspective in classroom instruction. A brief perusal of certain local events and the conclusions of many education reports clearly support the need for the study of foreign languages and cultures.
At the local level, one might consider a major event in the State Department of Education. Currently, the State Department of Education has mandated a re-evaluation of the educational system. In its recommendation for a high school diploma, it has reinstated the traditional package of four credits of English, three credits of Mathematics, three credits of Social Studies and others. It did not mention a foreign language requirement or cultural studies even though many colleges and universities have reinstituted their foreign language requirements.
Secondly, various statistics and major reports on education in the United States strongly recommended the study of foreign languages and cultural studies for many reasons. The following statistics summarized by the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers clearly advocate the study of foreign languages and cultural studies: one out of every six manufacturing jobs is directly related to export. Between 1977 and 1980, four out of every five jobs created in manufacturing were export related. More than a third of all corporate profits derive from foreign investment and trade. More than twenty percent of American industrial output is exported. Two fifths of our farmland produces for export. Despite this involvement with foreign trade and investment, only one out of twenty public high school students studies French, German or Russian beyond the first or second year. The United States is probably the only country in the world where a student can graduate from college having had less than a year of a foreign language.
The National Commission on Excellence in Education in its highly publicized and controversial report supported the study of foreign languages and cultural studies. It recommended that college bound high school students should study two years of a foreign language as a minimum. Furthermore, it said that since proficiency in a foreign language usually requires four to six years of study and immersion, instruction should commence at the elementary level. Studies also indicate that reading skills and comprehension are improved through second language study. SAT scores, both verbal and math, are higher for those who have studied foreign languages. The Twentieth Century Task Force on Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Policy also recommends that public school students study foreign languages and cultures. Other reports such as those conducted by the National Assessment of Educational Progress also indicate an urgent need for more cultural awareness and knowledge of different peoples and cultures.
Thus, writing a curriculum unit to supplement the existing programs can be justified in many ways and from different points of view. Besides the convincing conclusions of the aforementioned reports, there is preponderant evidence that the study of foreign languages, cultures and geographies enhances and facilitates communication and contacts between different individuals and groups. The multi-ethnic population of our schools necessitates more attention and study in languages and culture. A unit such as the one suggested here is a rather minute step in the achievement of an ongoing general goal of communicating and understanding of other people. It is the contention here that through the study of different manifestations of any given culture, one can gain insight into the collective mind of a people.
Folklore by its very nature is an important expression of a people which if studied can shed light on the traditions, beliefs, superstitions, poetry and history of a given culture. This unit presents a general overview of folklore, including its genesis and categories. First, it examines folklore in its historical perspective and as a preponderant occurrence of a people as well as a cogent pronouncement of its present. Secondly, it concentrates on the folklore of Panama and other Hispanic countries in as far as history and folktales might be interrelated. The history and folklore of Panama like that of other countries represent a wealth of material that can be attractive and interesting to students.
More specifically, the objectives of this unit are to introduce students to vocabulary of folklore in Spanish and English, to have students learn the history of Panama, to increase the students’ writing and reading ability, to help students become conversant about the folklore topic, to have students improve their grammar and writing skills by converting a folktale to a mini drama, and finally, students utilize the information learned in a productive and comical way, by creating their own folktale, legend or proverb. Needless to say, none of these objectives can be attained in isolation. One goal or objective promotes another. For example, the total culmination of the above objectives can be to have all students involved in presenting a skit for the school assembly or PTA. This unit is a versatile supplement to the middle school curriculum which hopefully can be used even for the students who are so often and arbitrarily scheduled for foreign language classes without orientation or understanding as to why they are placed in these classes, as well as the student who has an “educated” interest in the culture or language and takes the course as an elective.
The first step towards developing the stated goals is to give a brief talk on the history of Panama and then supplement this by showing the filmstrip “Panama” available from the audio visual department of the central office or Sheridan Middle School. The teacher can use the following introduction to elicit attention and interest.
