World Language

Developing enthusiastic, lifelong language learners with a deep appreciation of other cultures and the larger world in which we live.

Our World Language program is designed to help students develop an awareness and appreciation of other cultures at the same time they are:

  • acquiring skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing;
  • reinforcing learning of our general curriculum;
  • demonstrating critical thinking as they analyze, synthesize, and produce oral and written expressions in the target language; and
  • ultimately, become enthusiastic lifelong language learners.

Although it takes many hours of intense study to learn a second language, early learning programs like ours help students begin that long journey toward proficiency. The earlier students begin learning a language, the better the cumulative effect of instruction is over time. Research shows that students who study a language when they are young have higher rates of proficiency in high school.

We are the only elementary school in the area to offer three world languages:

  • French
  • Mandarin
  • Spanish

Prekindergarten

Our world language specialists visit our prekindergarten students in their classrooms. The focus is on culture and each language is offered once a week for 20 minutes.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten students sample each world language, visiting a specialist classroom every other day for 45 minutes for 12 weeks.

Grades 1 through 8

Beginning in 1st grade, students choose one language to study continuously through their 8th grade year. Through 4th grade, students have world language three times per week for 45 minutes. Beginning in 5th grade, time spent in world language class increases to four times per week for 45 minutes.