Chuck Thorpe is a certified High School Spanish Teacher and taught the SVS live via satellite program that launched in 1989. He continues to develop and instruct SVS High School Spanish and is excited about the opportunities and increased interaction the new mediated DVD format provides.

Chuck believes that personal growth occurs by gaining an understanding of other languages and cultures. He hopes that the unique delivery method of this course expands the personal horizons of his SVS students, many of whom would not experience the larger world by studying a foreign language. In an effort to further his own exposure, Chuck’s studies have taken him to Europe and Latin America, including study in Spain as a recipient of the King Juan Carlos fellowship. Chuck is a certified high school teacher in the state of Kansas. Spanish I and II are currently accredited in most states.

The School Services Coordinator, and the Spanish-speaking support staff score all oral evaluations and are available to assist Teaching Partners and their students from 8 – 5 CST, Monday through Friday. All class sections participate in phone lessons. This mandatory interaction provides communication practice and helps support the learning needs of each student.

A value-added website is available only for SVS Teaching Partners and students. Teaching tools, enrichment activities, pronunciation practice, and other enhancements help to build and support the SVS partnership and learning community.

Support via toll-free telephone and e-mail Teaching Partners and students are encouraged to call toll-free to receive help from the SVS instructor and support staff. Assistance is available on weekdays to provide help in both English and Spanish. They can answer questions relating to almost all aspects of the program, including Spanish language, lesson plans, course management, and any special situations that may arise. SVS assistants are also available to provide lesson support over the phone to a student or to a group of students. For group lessons, it is helpful to use a speakerphone in the classroom. Many Teaching Partners take advantage of this service to help students review for exams, reinforce difficult concepts, and catch up in the event of lost days of school.

The SVS Instructor, Chuck Thorpe, was awarded the United States Distance Learning Association’s Excellence in Distance Teaching Award. The National Rural Education Association also recognized the SVS program with its Exemplary Program Award.

In 1989, the Spanish via Satellite classes were offered to small and rural high schools. The SVS program, was originally funded by a large Star Schools grant. SVS reflects a constantly evolving and responsive approach to developments in foreign language teaching and the reality of the challenges faced by participating schools. Since its inception in 1989, the SVS program has undergone many changes and met numerous technological challenges to provide uninterrupted instruction and support.

The parent organization, the Educational Communications Center at Kansas State University, made a commitment to support schools technically as well as pedagogically, and provided hundreds of hours of toll-free support to participating schools as they dealt with analog satellite receivers and dish antennae issues. As years passed, and analog equipment began showing signs of age and inefficiency, it became clear that it was time for a more modern , less burdensome solution to be sought in order to continue to provide instruction. A transition phase for schools to digital reception, made possible by collaboration with Northern Arizona University (NAU) and its University house channel on the commercial DishNet service, took place. Other forms of distance education technology have been part of the SVS program since its beginning; those that worked well were kept, others less practical were abandoned while trying to keep the school cost (and potential waste) in mind. In 2005, the SVS program developed its original broadcast quality videolessons, so schools would no longer need satellite equipment, just an inexpensive DVD player hooked to a classroom monitor. Increased opportunities for interaction were developed for communication practice. SVS will continue to grow and change to meet the needs of its participating schools.