“I understand that in order to take full advantage of my time in Spanish class, I am expected to maintain the spirit of The Language Pledge…My constant use of Spanish is a symbol of my commitment…My continued use of Spanish will increase my confidence and my ability…It will also create an atmosphere where my classmates and I can work together to achieve our goals as a cohesive group.” Here I share with you excerpts from the recently agreed upon Eighth Grade Language Pledge. In an attempt to come together as a class and to better prepare ourselves for Spanish beyond the confines of the classroom, we decided that this was the next step we needed to take together. Hesitant at first to ONLY use Spanish, we dedicated some class time to discussing our worries, fears and expectations for ourselves and each other. Fast forward, and we are now two months into ONLY using Spanish in class. Our worries and fears have dissolved, but our expectations continue to evolve. I couldn’t be prouder of this group of students for embracing this new challenge. Pictured here, are some eighth graders enjoying the fruits of their labor: a party complete with some Latin American treats and music of course!