According to research studies, Spanish is the happiest and most positive language in the world.* Currently, Spanish is the world's second-most spoken native language after Mandarin Chinese Over 560 million people speak Spanish, including those who are Spanish language students. The Cervantes Institute (the largest organisation in the world responsible for promoting the study and the teaching of Spanish language and culture) estimates that over than 472 million people speak Spanish as a native language, and a total of 567 million people speak Spanish including native speakers and students at varied levels of proficiency. An impressive 7.8% of the world population!

The soaring popularity of studying Spanish as a second language is reflected at CIS. The Spanish programme for primary students opened this academic year, and continues all through secondary school including the Diploma Programme.

At CIS, we are committed to exposing students to the language as well as the culture that the language represents. We know that in order to properly master a language, you need to be immersed with the people, customs, food, history, and activities. Over the course of this school year, our students students have had the opportunity to increase their proficiency in the language, while learning about Día de muertos, practicing flamenco dance, cooking gazpacho, eating las uvas de la suerte for New Year’s Eve and constructing piñatas.

This month, for the very first time, Spanish students will be taking Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE) exams. DELE is an official qualification awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Education to certify the Spanish language competency of students from outside a Spanish-speaking country. These certificates are valid for life and recognised worldwide.

Spanish native MYP students helping Spanish DP students to prepare for their orals

Another first in the evolution of Spanish at CIS was our Spanish latin festival which saw primary and secondary students coming together to celebrate the Spanish language and cultures. The celebrations began on 21 April with latin music and dancing for our Spanish language students. Timothy Studlo, Tanjong Katong’s Digital Literacy Coach, performed and then conducted a workshop on some basic reggaeton and salsa moves, along with his dancing partner. After showcasing his talent in latin dance, Mr Studlo shared how his passion for dance is truly interconnected with his love of the Spanish language and cultures.

Mr Studlo said: “Spanish is my second language. Growing up in the United States we were surrounded by Spanish speakers and sometimes we had to use Spanish to communicate in our daily lives. My favourite thing about the Spanish culture is the way people go about their daily lives. I admire the Spanish people who know how to live life to the fullest. Once you experience the Spanish culture, you leave with a new appreciation in your heart for all the things in life, big or small. The more you surround yourself with the culture, the more you will understand the language.”

The celebrations continued on 23 April when Spanish language students observed ‘Día del Idioma Castellano’ (Spanish Castilian day), an important date in the South American calendar. On this day, the great Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes is remembered with his most influential books among the best loved world literature of all times - El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha. This story reveals the adventures of a self declared knight who reads so many romance novels that he loses his sanity and decides to set out to revive chivalry and bring justice to the world, under the name of Don Quijote de la Mancha. Every year this novel is read for48 hours non-stop by figures from the world of Spanish culture and politics, and by ordinary citizens and schools all over the country and abroad. This year CIS joined in this tradition for the very first time! Students displayed talent and commitment on their learning journeys.

A few words from our students:

What I like the most about Spanish is…

… that it's very interesting and unique because of the things Spanish people do and celebrate! I also love the food! (Lilla Zsarnoczay, grade 7)

… how different it is from the culture we are currently living in, though it reminds me of my home language and culture in the Netherlands. It gives me the feeling that though I am hundreds of kilometers away, I'm still there. (Janneke Van Goch, grade 8).

… the speaking and how fast it is, I like the food as well (Julie Le Bretton, grade 8)

… the rich culture that has been preserved throughout the years. I especially like how this culture is shared amongst so many countries that are united in the language around the world” (Max Slater, grade 11).

... most of the Spanish words are quite similar to Turkish. I also like sending Spanish emails to my Spanish Pen-pal. I really enjoy learning Spanish, it is super fun! (Ozgur Genc, grade 4)

...I find the culture very friendly and inviting, we feel warm and welcome…. (Vidith Srivastava, grade 6)

… is friendly to learn and is one of the most important languages of the world... (Isaac Misajon, grade 6)

… that it is not a subject. It is home." (Stefan Chamorro, grade 12)

* according to a research study published in February 2015 by the University of Vermont (UoV) and not-for-profit research and development organisation, the MITRE Corporation.