The foundation for learning Spanish begins in the young scholars classroom with the focus being on object identification and understanding and responding to simple questions and commands. Students learn through songs, books, movies, and hands-on activities. The junior kindergarten class expands and builds on the vocabulary learned in the young scholars classroom.  Greater effort is made to use the vocabulary in simple sentences.   Students in K-4 meet two to three times a week for Spanish classes.  They have the opportunity to gradually increase and refine their reading, writing, and conversational skills through writing exercises, games, books, reading age-appropriate short stories, songs, and hands-on cultural activities.  Kindergarten students prepare an authentic meal for Cinco de Mayo and learn related songs.  In the grades 5-8 the students not only read and understand authentic Spanish texts, but they also learn in depth about the Spanish and Latin American cultures through guest speakers, pen-pal writing, Internet assignments, on-line assessments, and hands-on activities like cooking classes.  Students just recently prepared a delicious Flan de Coco for a unit on Puerto Rico.  The eighth graders also read a collection of short stories, Primeros Encuentros by Sabine Ulibarri.  Most students, upon graduation, are able to test out of at least the first year of secondary school Spanish

The students at Forest Ridge Academy hone their Spanish speaking skills through Bach’s Lunch, a lunchtime performance during which students sing a song or recite a poem.  Middle school students perform short plays entirely in Spanish.  This year the entire student body was involved in Hispanic Week celebrations.  They celebrated with a Mariachi band and the Ballet Folclorico de Northwest Indiana.   A Taste of Latin America was held on the final day of celebrations.