Sixth graders in beginning Spanish are just about ready to move from Level 1 to Level 2 in their curriculum, Auténtico Spanish Program. In order to master Level 1, “students are learning the verb estar ("to be") and integrating it with the vocabulary and grammar they have been learning,” says teacher Julieta Zuniga. Estar is one of the most important verbs in the Spanish language (along with ser), similar to the English “to be.” To practice what they have learned about this important verb, students composed a dialogue asking one another where things are located in the classroom. —¿Dónde está el libro? (“Where is the book?”), one student asked and pointed to a book. —El libro está al lado del lápiz (“The book is next to the pencil”), another student replied. Students expressed not only the location of items in the room, but also described how they are feeling (another important use of estar).

 

“This chapter is very important,” adds Ms. Zuniga, “because we express our feelings with estar and we express where things are. It is used every single day in real life by Spanish speakers.” MORE PHOTOS