Abstract
Project Objective
The objective of this project is to develop supplementary pedagogical materials for teaching Spanish to integrate foreign language instruction with instruction on the traditions, practices, history and culture of the Catholic Church. The purpose is for Catholic school students to increase their ability to communicate in Spanish about their Catholic school environment and to prepare to participate in a community of faith in a global society.
Sources of Data
References used for consultation include the Bible, Catholic encyclopedias, dictionaries, catechisms, religious websites, prayer books, theological writings, books about saints and liturgical texts. Prayers cited in this work, unless otherwise specified, are traditional devotions of the Roman Catholic Church and pertain to the public domain.
Conclusions Reached
Typical textbooks for learning a foreign language do not present the specialized topics and vocabulary that Catholic school students need to converse in Spanish about the religious and cultural aspects of their Catholic environment. Since Catholic schools attempt to integrate the Catholic faith in the instruction of all subject areas, this project will provide supplementary materials for foreign language teachers in Catholic schools. The project can be used as a model for schools of other religious and cultural traditions to formulate similar supplementary materials for the teaching of foreign language.