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News in Spanish
Peggy Zorolla Miller
Aberdeen High School, Aberdeen, Mississippi
Subject: Languages
Grade: 9-12
"Putting together these newspapers offered so much variety
that all the students were involved in what interested them."
Purpose and Description of Project
Peggy Miller's project involved her Spanish II students in writing
stories, taking photographs, and putting together two newspapers-?Que Tal?
in Spanish for her I and II students and ?Para Ninos? in English
for first through fourth graders in two of the school district's elementary
schools.
The newspapers were to highlight Hispanic culture as well as the individual interests
of the Spanish II students. Miller's goals were to increase student
motivation and to strengthen Spanish reading, writing, and vocabulary
skills.
Activities
An editorial staff was chosen to discuss the content, illustration,
and format needed for the newspapers. The results of this meeting
were shared with the rest of the students who volunteered to work
on various sections. Students were also assigned to research and
write reports, some of which were selected for the culture section.
Students wrote articles, drew cartoons, and took photos of various
student activities during class or after school. The elementary
newspaper also included short activities involving Spanish words
and phrases.
Que Tal? was used as supplementary material in the Spanish
I classes to augment their studies of Spanish-speaking countries
and their cultures. As students translated the articles, new words
and subjects were discussed, vocabulary words assigned, and tests
given. Students were evaluated on pronunciation and comprehension.
Spanish II students used the newspaper as a means of reinforcing
reading and writing skills. New vocabulary words were discussed
and tests given on the various articles.
Miller took copies of Para Niños to elementary reading
classes. She read the newspaper with the students, and then gave
each child a Spanish name and taught them how to say selected
phrases in Spanish.
Materials, Resources, and Expenses
Students used a 35 mm camera to take the newspaper pictures. Books
on Spanish culture, prose, and poetry were used for article research.
The high school and elementary school principals and teachers
were both helpful and supportive of the newspapers' preparation
and subsequent use. The newspapers were typeset and printed.
Outcomes and Adaptability
The Spanish II students were very positive toward the activity
and proud of their efforts. Miller noted that the project strengthened
their Spanish reading, speaking, and writing skills, particularly
among her below-average students. The Spanish I students improved
reading and vocabulary skills, and were enriched culturally. The
elementary students learned some Spanish words as well as facts
about Hispanic people and their customs- "they seemed genuinely
interested in learning about these people and their language,"
according to Miller.
The students had fun while they were learning and their motivational
level remained high as they created their own newspapers; as a
result, Miller recommended the project to other language teachers.