Wolfgang Puck once observed that “cooking is an expression of the land where you are and the culture of that place”. Culture and identity are fundamentally important to understanding a language; therefore, cooking must also be integral to language acquisition. Not only do cooking lessons make vocabulary and grammar come alive, but they also foster practical skill building and shared responsibility in students. At Sabot, we are very fortunate to have great interest in cooking among the student body (who regularly cook as part of the Exploratory program) and the support of an administration that allows us the space and creativity for these lessons.

Beginning in late November, students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Spanish started learning basic Spanish vocabulary for cooking. This included common ingredients and recipes for the 6th and 7th grade, and cooking techniques and commands for the 8th grade. Students created menus, ideas for fusion plates, and games of blind taste-testing prior to our cooking lessons. As of February, all middle school classes have completed two cooking lessons: gazpacho (a cold tomato soup) from Spain and Argentinian empanadas (dumpling-like folded pockets that contain different fillings such as meat and cheese). By the end of the school year, each middle school class will have completed four to five cooking lessons in total.

Cooking lessons are carefully planned to allow for maximum amount of use of the target language and both individual and group work. Each dish must be completed with time allowed for clean up and reflection in the one-hour class. The element of choice and co-construction is integral to our curriculum at Sabot. It manifests in this class when students must choose their own ingredients, or work with their classmates to determine the exact order and amount of ingredients to add to a dish. There is always at least one step that students must figure out for themselves. Just as with Exploratory, the goal is to learn, assess, and reflect- not to produce perfection.

The general structure of a cooking class involves:

These stages are often happening simultaneously. Some students may be preparing food, while others are cleaning, and others are working on their reflections. The classroom is a living and dynamic area where students are not only learning and practicing the language, but also practicing knife safety, conquering their fear of the oven, or teaching another student an efficient way to cut or peel. We can’t wait to see what new skills and delicious dishes the students accomplish over the next couple of months!

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