Edmonton Catholic Schools offers the Spanish Bilingual program for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students.
The ECSD Spanish Bilingual programs aim for high academic achievement and strong communicative skills in Spanish and English, while enriching students' first language and emphasizing faith, language, and culture. With support from the Ministry of Education of Spain, we offer students the opportunity to obtain the DELE Spanish Proficiency Certificate. Edmonton Catholic Schools is proud to have International Spanish Academy status.
The International Spanish Academies and Bilingual Programs
- Are consistent with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
- Aim for students’ high academic achievement and strong communicative skills in both Spanish and English
- Strive to enrich and complement students’ first language
- Place a strong emphasis on faith, language, and culture
- Celebrate our faith with an annual gathering of all Spanish Bilingual students to honour Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Provide French as a second language in grades 4 and upward
- Employ dedicated professional staff and administration
- Offer international proficiency exams as an official testing centre accredited by the Cervantes Institute of Spain
What does an International Spanish Academy include?
- Support from the Ministry of Education of Spain
- Visiting teachers from Spain
- Language and culture assistant programs
- Spanish Language Advisor at Alberta Education
- Supplemental materials and resources
- Cultural contacts with Spain
- Annual seminars for educators
- The opportunity to obtain the DELE Spanish Proficiency Certificate
For more information, please visit the the International Spanish Academy Program.
Eligibility and Points of Entry
Kindergarten and Grade 1 are the two entry points for the Spanish Bilingual program. No knowledge of Spanish is required for these entry points.
Families wishing to register their child(ren) in the Spanish Bilingual program after Grade 1 should contact the school principal. Registration is considered on an individual basis.
Resources for Families
ECSD is here to support our families and students throughout their language learning journey. We have a helpful video series, Language Learning Myths and Misconceptions, which is a dedicated resource to support families considering enrolling their children into a language program, and an in-depth video, Supporting Your Language Learner.
What are the benefits of learning Spanish?
- Information on the International Spanish Academy Program
- Bilingualism is at the core of Canada’s national identity;
- Learning a second language has been shown to bring cognitive and academic benefits;
- Learning a second language can open up many additional opportunities such as employment; and
- Research has shown that learning a second language could have a positive effect on first language development.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What if I don’t speak Spanish– how can I support my child’s learning?
Edmonton Catholic Schools language programs are designed for families who may not speak the language they want their child(ren) to study. Several resources are available to assist your child(ren) in their language learning journey. These can be found in the resources section above.
Will communications from the school be in English or Spanish?
Communications from the school and Edmonton Catholic Schools will be in English.
Can my child enter the Spanish Bilingual program beyond Kindergarten or Grade 1?
Kindergarten and Grade 1 are the two points of entry for the Spanish Bilingual program. No prior knowledge of Spanish is required for these entry points. Families wishing to register their children in the Spanish Bilingual program after Grade 1 should contact the school principal. Registration is considered on an individual basis.
Can my child continue in the Spanish Bilingual program from Kindergarten to Grade 12?
Yes! Edmonton Catholic Schools offers the Spanish Bilingual program in all grades.
What options are available for my child to get to the school with our chosen language program?
Students attending their designated school may be eligible for yellow bus service if they are:
- Kindergarten to Grade 6 who live at least 1 km from their designated school.
- Grades 7 to 12 who live at least 2 km from their designated school and Edmonton Transit Services (ETS) is unavailable.
Please visit this page for more information about transportation to and from Edmonton Catholic Schools.
What schools offer the Spanish Bilingual program?
To find which schools offer the language of your choice, please visit the list above ECSD Spanish Bilingual Schools.
What are the benefits of a language program?
Learning a second language has been shown to bring cognitive and academic benefits, and can open up many additional opportunities such as employment. Research has shown that learning a second language can positively affect first language development.
Can my child challenge a language course?
Yes. Current Edmonton Catholic Schools high school students have the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency (culture, speaking, reading, writing) in one of six languages Filipino, French, Italian, Polish, Spanish, and Ukrainian. Please visit our second language course challenge page for more information.
Registration
To register your child(ren), please visit our registration page for more information.
Transportation
Students attending their designated school may be eligible for yellow bus service if they are:
- Kindergarten to Grade 6 who live at least 1 km from their designated school.
- Grades 7 to 12 who live at least 2 km from their designated school and Edmonton Transit Services (ETS) is unavailable.
For more information about transportation to and from Edmonton Catholic Schools, please visit this page.
Student Exchange Opportunities
Student exchange programs are a great way to learn how to communicate and collaborate with diverse cultures, learn more about international communities, and become active global citizens.
Students in ECSD can apply to study abroad in Mexico and Spain through Alberta Education.
Learn more here.
New to Canada?
Edmonton Catholic Schools welcomes families from around the world. We encourage you to call One World . . . One Centre at 780-441-6060 for inquiries about having your children begin school with Edmonton Catholic Schools.
Good Afternoon,
We would like to take the time to invite you to our first International Spanish Academy (ISA) certificate ceremony. This event will be hosted by Louis St. Laurent from 1:00-2:15PM. We are asking students bring a maximum of one guest as seating will be limited. We thank you for your understanding and look forward to celebrating this special event.
Thank you very much!
Gracias!
Louis St. Laurent is an International Spanish Academy (ISA) school which focuses on preparing bilingual, biliterate, and multicultural students so that they can achieve proficiency in writing, reading, listening, and speaking in Spanish, according to their age and level of education. The ISA Program offers students a comprehensive education that will develop skills and abilities through a total immersion in the Spanish Language and culture, and also through the use of an instructional model that integrates content, communication, knowledge and culture.
The International Spanish Academy (ISA) program is an educational outreach initiative of the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training of Spain where high performing schools in the United States and Canada implement a Spanish-English dual language immersion curriculum with the support and recognition of the Ministry.
Junior High
At Louis St. Laurent, the Spanish Bilingual program provides students with the opportunity to develop strong bilingual and literacy skills. The Spanish Bilingual Program is intended for those who have studied Spanish in Kindergarten to Grade 6. Native Spanish speakers who have not been in the K-6 program will be considered on an individual basis and may include an aptitude exam.
The Bilingual program places a strong emphasis on faith, language, and culture and aims for high academic achievement and strong communicative skills. Louis St. Laurent provides a rich environment for language learning by offering a variety of cultural and subject-area content. Students in the Jr. High Spanish Bilingual Program complete 35% of their school schedule in Spanish and 65% in English. All core subjects are taken in English as well as music and physical education.
Students in the secondary bilingual program receive 35% of their instruction in Spanish through a variety of core and option classes.
Apart from the knowledge and appreciation of different cultures and Spanish proficiency, students also benefit by obtaining an international language certificate through the DELE exam in their grade 9 year.
Senior High
The bilingual programming provides a rich environment for the learning of languages, cultures and subject-area content. The program enables students to maintain and extend the level of Spanish linguistic and cultural competency that they have already achieved. The Spanish Bilingual Program provides students with the opportunity to acquire the basic skills for speaking, reading, writing, listening and communicating in Spanish.
The Spanish Bilingual Program, in high school, is comprised of Spanish Language Arts (SLA) and Spanish Film Appreciation and is intended for those who have studied Spanish in Kindergarten to Grade 9. Native Spanish speakers who have not been in the K-9 program will be considered on an individual basis.
Spanish Language Arts focuses on improving communication on to be able speak, read, write and listen to texts on a wide variety of topics. Students will be exposed to a variety of authentic resources in the context of both Latin American and Spanish culture using topics including religion, art, history, literature and current events.
Spanish Film Appreciation and Culture is a 3-credit senior high school option class. This course introduces the student to Spanish language films as an art form. Films are much more than entertainment; they motivate people, stimulate thought, encourage questioning, express personal viewpoints, and provide social and political commentaries. The primary focus will be on film criticism and analysis using numerous genres of films.
Students in the secondary bilingual program, Grade 10-12, receive 25 credits taught in Spanish through Spanish Language Arts and Spanish Film Appreciation.
Spanish language class at LSL is more than vocabulary sheets and verb conjugations. Being in Spanish has made me experience and attempt new skills, that I wouldn’t have tried otherwise. For example, I learned how to make short films, and create fun posters which have expanded my creativity. Having the ability to speak and learn a second language has widened my view on different cultures and traditions. I’ve been in Spanish since kindergarten and do not regret continuing it here at Louis.
-Ximena Ng-Gomez