World Languages

Sarah Preston

March 22, 2018

World Languages CoursesFrench Spanish Latin

Grade 9 French 1 Spanish 1 Latin 2 CP

Latin 2 H

Grade 10 French 2 CP

French 2 H

Spanish 2 CP

Spanish 2H

Latin 3 CP

Latin 3 H

(Poetry)

Grade 11 French 3 CP

French 3 H

Spanish 3 CP

Spanish 3 H

Latin 4 CP

Latin 4 H

(Prose)

Grade 12 French 4 CP

French 4 H

AP French

Spanish 4 CP

Spanish 4 H

AP Spanish

Latin 5 H

AP Latin

Elective: Intro to Ancient Greek Grade 11 – 12*does not fulfill the 2-year language requirement

World Languages Objectives

All students are capable of learning a 2nd language!

Students will be able to:

• develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

• gain knowledge and understanding of other cultures.

• compare their own language and culture with another.

• make connections with other subject areas.

• participate in communities at home and around the world in other languages.

http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/foreign/1999.pdf

Interdisciplinary Projects: World Languages & Art

• Roman Art & Self Portraits:• Mr. Fuller’s 8th grade Latin class studied the concept of “self” in Roman art while Ms.

Cloutman's 8th grade art class completed self-portraits.

• French Impressionism and Drawing & Painting• Ms. Norton’s Drawing & Painting students reproduced French impressionist works and

Madame Zhobro’s French 3 classes discussed the works in French.

• Frida Kahlo & Spanish Film• Art teacher Ms. Terrill guest lectured on Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo in Mr. Clarkson’s

Spanish 4 prior to watching the movie Frida.

• Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month

Fall 2015 – present day

• Cultural Innovation Grant Flamenco

Workshops

Spring 2016, Spring 2018(planned bi-annually)

• Celebration of National Foreign

Language Week

March 2016 – present day

• National Spanish Exam

Spring 2016 – present day

• National French Contest

Launched Spring 2017

• National Spanish Honor Society

Launched November 2017

Department Milestones 2013-2018

Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15- Oct. 15

We had morning announcements and decorations related to Hispanic topics and achievements.

Students decorated sugar skulls for the Day of the Dead, a collaboration between art and Spanish.

National Foreign Language Week

Each day students said “Good morning and have a great day” in a different language.

The cafeterias were decorated with an international flag banner and table tents of “hello” in multiple languages.

The bulletin board in the entranceway has greetings in world-wide languages.

National Spanish Honor Society

• AMSA’s first academic-specific honor society!

• 30 students were inducted Nov. 29, 2017

• Mission: celebrate students’ achievements in Spanish, foster their growth and promote community service

National AssessmentsNational Latin Exam since 2008• In 2017, AMSA students earned 3 gold,

6 silver, 5 bronze medals and 5 honorable mentions

National Spanish Exam since 2016• In 2017, Students earned 6 gold, 14

silver, 7 bronze medals, and 38 honorable mentions.

National French Contest, Spring 2017• 6 medal winners, Kate Longinova

(2019)- perfect score, top .01% of nation!

(L-R) Julie Zhobro, Kate Longinova (‘19), Sarah Preston

Vision for World Languages

• Expand the language selection at AMSA.

• Introduce languages earlier in student careers.

• Offer more flexibility in language selection.

Introduce Mandarin at AMSA

• Mandarin is the most widely spoken language in the world!

• Mandarin is spoken in China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia,

Thailand, Brunei, Philippines and Mongolia.

• Third most commonly spoken language in the US.

(2016 U.S. Census Bureau)

• Growing importance in business and trade.

https://accent.gg/10-reasons-why-you-should-learn-mandarin/

Mandarin is commonly offered at area schools• Acton Boxborough- French, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish

• Concord Carlisle- French, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish

• Framingham- French, Italian, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish

• Hopkinton- French, Mandarin, Spanish

• Lexington- ASL, French, German, Italian, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish

• Marlborough- Latin, Mandarin, Spanish

• Needham- French, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish

• Wayland- French, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish

• Wellesley- French, German, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish

• Westborough- French, Mandarin, Spanish

• Westwood- French, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish

Introduce languages earlier in student careers & Give them more flexibility

• Students will continue to learn the Latin language, and Greek and Roman mythology in 6th grade.

• Starting in 7th grade, students can choose the language that most interests them: French, Latin, Mandarin, or Spanish.

• The benefits of studying a language for up to 6 consecutive years include:• additional opportunity for cultural enrichment and in-depth study.

• potentially higher levels of proficiency.

• Better preparation for Advanced Placement (AP) exams.