Your teachers
Our program
Background & basics
Fun facts & learning
Class
100
What are the names of the Spanish and Mandarin teachers?
Caroline and Tsailin
100
How many days a week do language classes meet and how long is each class?
Language classes meet twice a week. Each class is 45 minutes.
100
How much Spanish or Mandarin do you need to know to sign up for that class?
None! It's great if you have some knowledge of the language and/or culture, but it's also great if you're brand new to it. We're happy to have you in our classes no matter what your background is, and we work with you to ensure that our activities and projects offer the right level of challenge for you.
100
At what age do toddlers generally start putting 2-3 words together into sentences?
Age 2
100
When should you eat, fill your water bottle, and use the bathroom?
Before class. For the bathroom, if it's an emergency, please raise your hand and ask. It's important that we know where you are at all times, so please don't just go without saying anything.
200
What grade does Caroline advise? What grade does Tsailin advise?
Caroline is a grade 5 advisor
Tsailin is a grade 6 advisor
200
What is the relationship between Spanish and Mandarin classes at Synapse?
A. We don't have anything to do with each other.
B. We do a cooperative class once a year where students teach each other phrases in Spanish and Mandarin.
C. We meet together once a week and do trilingual projects.
D. We do the same projects, but in different languages. We generally meet separately, but we meet together on occasion.
D. We do the same projects, but in different languages. We generally meet separately, but we meet together on occasion.
200
What should you do if an assignment or an activity seems too easy or too challenging?
Talk to your teacher!
200
It isn’t until around age _____ that people other than caregivers can understand all of what a child says.
4
200
Name three things we do at the beginning of each class.
Line up outside, put backpacks against the wall, write down the word of the day, say the date out loud, do the warm-up activity
300
Where is Caroline from?
Where is Tsailin from?
Caroline was born and raised in San Francisco and Tsailin was born and raised in Taiwan.
300
What do we call it when Spanish and Mandarin meet together?
Spandarin!
300
Why do we start off with the basics every year?
Reviewing the basics is a great way to start off the school year. It helps keep them fresh in your mind so you’re ready to use them when you need to, and you might even learn a few new words or phrases.
300
Roughly how many hours of exposure has the average 2 year old had to their native language, assuming they sleep around 12 hours a day?
A. 1900
B. 2400
C. 5600
D. 8800
D. 8800
300
Name five norms to follow during class.
One mic, body spotlight, active participation, use materials appropriately, treat supplies gently, be respectful to yourself, your peers, and your teacher, be kind, be safe, be present
400
Name one activity that Caroline enjoys and one activity that Tsailin enjoys outside of school.
Caroline - reading, traveling, crafting, game nights
Tsailin - reading, hiking, traveling, exploring different cultures
400
What kind of language program does Synapse offer?
A. intensive
B. immersion
C. exposure
D. expressive
C. exposure
That means we mainly use English in instruction, although we do also work on listening and speaking skills in the target language.
400
What can you do if you've already mastered the alphabet, numbers, etc.?
If you know how to say the alphabet or numbers, you can work on writing or understanding when others say them (listening comprehension).
400
Which of the following are the best way to make progress in learning a language?
A. Exposure and repetition
B. Memorizing vocabulary
C. Doing worksheets
D. Using a dictionary
A. Exposure and repetition.
The more exposure you have to a language and the more you use it, the faster you learn! Practicing outside of class with apps, movies, music, and more will help you make progress.
400
Name three things we do at the end of class.
Write down any homework in your planner, put notebooks and folders back in appropriate bin neatly, put away supplies, clean up anything that needs to be cleaned up, push in your chair and stand behind it, wait for Caroline to dismiss you individually with a thumbs up
500
How long has Caroline been teaching at Synapse? How long has Tsailin been teaching at Synapse?
This is Caroline's sixth year at Synapse and Tsailin's third year.
500
What is the goal of an exposure program?
To help students start building a foundation in the language they are learning and to familiarize them with the culture(s) where that language is spoken.
500
What are the four skill areas in language learning?
Speaking, writing, reading, and listening
500
What is the best way to get the most out of class?
A. Sitting quietly and listening to the teacher
B. Staying after class to clean the white boards
C. Checking in with your neighbor during class to make sure you understand what you need to do
D. Come to class prepared, stay on task, and complete assignments on time
D. Come to class prepared, stay on task, and complete assignments on time
500
What is your favorite project that you've done in your language class at Synapse? What did you like about it?
Answers may vary