News and Features
Lancaster Mennonite Expands Spanish Curriculum
Recognizing that young children learn language more readily than older children, Lancaster Mennonite School will now offer Spanish at all three of its elementary campuses for the 2008-09 school year in addition to adding Advanced Placement Spanish at Lancaster Mennonite High School.
At the New Danville Campus, Spanish will be part of the regular curriculum, using an enrichment, appreciation approach. The New Danville program will be similar to the one currently offered at the Locust Grove Campus. In addition to the Spanish enrichment program, Locust Grove offers a traditional Spanish I course in eighth grade, preparing students for Spanish II at the high school level. The Kraybill Campus will include Spanish in the curriculum from kindergarten to seventh grade, with plans to add 8th grade for 2009-10.
According to Kraybill Spanish teacher Betty Mumma, younger students “learn the Spanish language naturally, very much how a young child learns to speak.” Therefore, the innovative language program uses music, art and activities to expose children to Spanish through practical, enjoyable activities. The goal is to make learning Spanish an experience, not just an activity the students must endure. Mrs. Mumma says, “I want my room to be cheerful, bright, educationally stimulating, and a fun place to learn. I desire that when the students step into my room they may be able to feel like they are stepping into another culture.”
A highly regarded innovator and consultant in teaching Spanish to elementary students, Mrs. Mumma came to Kraybill in 2005 so she could teach in a Christ-centered atmosphere that prepared students for a life of service to Christ at home or abroad. In addition, she believes that the Spanish program can help students understand that God’s family embraces people of all races, nationalities and cultures. Mrs. Mumma says, “Connecting students to the Spanish culture will awaken a desire to know and understand people from other cultures, preparing them for a future career or ministry.”
Born in Guatemala, Mumma received her degree in elementary education from the Instituto Americana Latina, Guatemala City. Before coming to Kraybill she taught at many other schools where, in addition to Spanish, she taught kindergarten and music. She now shares her Kraybill classroom with her husband, Paul Mumma, former head of the language department for Manheim Central School District, who was recently hired to expand the Spanish program into the middle school grades at Kraybill.
As the Spanish curriculum expands at the elementary level, it is also expanding at the high school level. Lancaster Mennonite High School will offer AP Spanish during the 2008-09 school year as part of a strong high school Spanish program.
For the last 15 years, Lancaster Mennonite High School Spanish students have visited the small town of Choele-Choe in southern Argentina where they stay in the homes of people in the Mennonite church. During a stay of three to four weeks, the students participate in the Mennonite church life, visit schools and live in the culture. The students typically spend one week in the Andes Mountains visiting the another Mennonite church in the small town of Chos Malal. Brent Hartzler, who leads the trip, says, “As a Spanish teacher, it is really great to see students putting into practice the language skills that they have been working on, in a Spanish-speaking culture.”
In addition to Hartzler’s trip, LMH Spanish teacher Dennis Kauffman is leading a summer trip so students can experience Spanish-European culture first hand by visiting three key cities and their important cultural landmarks. On this trip, students will gain practical experience in the use of the Spanish language through negotiating the subway system, ordering food at restaurants and other general activities related to travel in a foreign country. Students will also visit representatives of Mennonite churches in Madrid.
