Foreign Language
The foreign language program in the Middle School provides students with an introduction to Latin, French or Spanish, while equipping them with the study skills required for language classes. All students study Latin in the sixth grade, two days a week. In seventh grade, students may elect French, Latin or Spanish, Level IA. In the eighth grade, they continue the same language in Level IB, completing the Level I course. Insufficient enrollment at any level of a language may eliminate instruction of the language for that year.
Because the Middle School foreign language program is intended as an introduction to a foreign language, students with native proficiency in French or Spanish should pursue another language. Once students enter the Upper School, they may take a test to determine the appropriate placement, should they choose to study their native language.
Upper School students are required to complete two years of the same foreign language in the Upper School and must complete through Level III, to achieve some fluency in that language. Completion of the IA/IB sequence in the Middle School allows students to fulfill the Upper School requirement with the Level III course by the end of their sophomore year. Students are strongly encouraged to continue their language studies beyond Level III; courses are offered through the Advanced Placement level in all languages.
Latin
Latin is required of all students in grade six. In grade seven, students may elect to continue with the Latin IA/IB sequence, or switch to French or Spanish IA/IB.
Objectives: Grade 6
- To introduce students to the systematic study of foreign language
- To make students aware of the importance of Latin to the development of English
- To acquaint students with the world of Ancient Rome
- To develop word-attack skills in English
- To explore how languages use different strategies to combine words into meaningful sentences
- To master a formal system of talking about language
Sixth-grade Latin introduces students to the study of foreign language. It meets two blocks per week. Each class features a variety of activities, oral and written, designed to encourage enthusiasm for language study and promote linguistic awareness. The focus is the influence of Latin on English, French and Spanish. Special emphasis will be placed on increasing English vocabulary through the study of Latin bases. Cultural units include: Roman history, slaves, women, history of English and classical mythology.
Objectives: Grades 7 and 8
- To read and understand Latin passages of graded difficulty
- To compose sentences that demonstrate mastery of inflection and syntax
- To respond appropriately to oral commands and questions using accurate pronunciation
- To master a basic Latin vocabulary, and expand English vocabulary through a study of Latin derivatives
- To appreciate Roman civilization, culture and history, and their impact on the developments in the subsequent history of the Western world
The Level I course in Latin, which spans seventh and eighth grades, introduces students to the language, history and culture of Ancient Rome. Students develop translation skills, master a basic Latin vocabulary and review English grammar as a basis for studying Latin grammar. Students will translate passages of graded difficulty and compose in Latin. In addition, they will master strategies for analyzing the meaning of Latin derivatives in English. Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to transfer their newly-acquired knowledge and skills to linguistic and cultural material they encounter in other classes. Cultural units include Roman family life, houses, dress, names, slaves, the city of Rome, the history of Rome from the kingship to the end of the republic and classical mythology.
French & Spanish
Objectives: Grades 7 and 8
- To be understood while speaking the target language in basic daily situations
- To develop a basic understanding of the spoken language
- To use common expressions and vocabulary, learn basic syntax and read and compose simple sentences in the language
- To appreciate the history and culture of those who speak the target language
The Level I course in French or Spanish, which spans seventh and eighth grades, introduces students to each language, its history and its culture. The primary objective of the course is to familiarize students with the sounds and elementary structures of the language. Basic sentences and common vocabulary are introduced to facilitate both oral and written communication. The two-year sequence allows for in-depth examination of the culture and current events, and also provides students with more opportunities for using their language skills. Students at this level communicate primarily through modeling examples in the target language and begin to communicate more independently during the IB segment of the course. After successful completion of both years of this Level I course, students should be able to ask and answer questions about themselves and their surroundings, write sentences and simple paragraphs and grasp main ideas from authentic texts.
