The Sisters' Connection

The mission of the Institute of Union-Chrétienne de Saint Chaumond is to provide a positive educational experience for children grounded in Christ, according to the charisma of the Institute. The Sisters’ involvement and primary goal is first to provide a foundation for our teachings of the Catholic faith and to provide foreign language skills to enable growth in each child’s abilities in the following years. Catholic Faith: Provide examples in everything we do at NDA in relationship to Christ. Display God’s love throughout the day and teach the holistic faith within all levels at school.

NDA Approach

NDA offers two languages, French and Spanish; thus, our approach is exploratory - the introduction to more than one foreign language, with an emphasis on language acquisition and cultural awareness. Survival fluency in each language is expected by 8th grade. Language classes are consistent with age appropriate learning environments, and are held daily. There is a systematic development of language abilities and culture(s) and related to the 5 goals of National Foreign Language Standards. Some theme related fluency is expected. Techniques include songs, skits, projects, games, and conversation. Topics connect to themes in social studies, religion, and language arts’ standards.

All grades (Preschool-8th): Prayers: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be; Celebrate religious and cultural holidays.

Preschool to Kindergarten: Colors, basic greetings, numbers 1-20, the calendar, formal and informal “you,” the family.

First to Eighth Grades: Self (body, family, the home, school); community (places, transportation); numbers 0-100, food, clothes, sports.

Fifth to Eight Grades: Introduction to grammar, emphasis on conversation.

National Standards - 5 C's

COMMUNICATE in Languages Other Than English

Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions; students understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics; students present information, concepts, and
ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.

Gain Knowledge and Understanding of Other CULTURES

Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the culture studied; students demonstrate an understanding of the
relationship between the products and perspectives of the culture studied.

CONNECT with Other Disciplines and Acquire Information

Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language; students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through the foreign language and its cultures.

Develop Insight into the Nature of Language and Culture: COMPARISONS

Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the language studied and their own; students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own.

Participate in Multilingual COMMUNITIES at Home & Around the World

Students use the language both within and beyond the school setting; students show
evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment
and enrichment.

Dioceses of San Diego Standards for 8th Grade

Alphabet, Vowels and Pronunciation, Numerals (01-100), Days of Week, Months, Seasons, Colors, Question Words, Prepositions, Common Phrases, Francophone and Hispanic Cultures, Parts of Speech, Songs, Dialogues, Nouns, Grammar, Commands, Poems, Skits, Direct/ Indirect Objects, Etre/Avoir (French), Ser and Estar (Spanish),
Gender, Possessives, Regular –er, -ir, -re Verbs (French), Regular –ar, -er, -ir verbs (Spanish), Writing Phrases, Correspondence, Negation.