World Languages

What is the fundamental purpose of our department?
To awaken an understanding and appreciation of the world, the World Language Department empowers each student to communicate in new languages, inspires lifetime language learners, and prepares students to be active contributors in the global community.

How do we achieve our desired end results?
We provide a positive learning environment and engaging instruction based on district, state, and national curriculum guidelines. In order to make this vision a reality, we stay professionally involved, globally informed, and linguistically up to date.

How must we behave to support our mission and vision?
As world language teachers, we value:
• A respect for and awareness of school, community and world cultures.
• Creativity in teaching and learning.
• Student and teacher responsibility.

What are our fundamental beliefs?
We believe:
• Language connects the world.
• World language study is equally as important as core subjects.
• Language course options should be broad and deep.
• Language learning enhances academic performance.
• World language students are more qualified for college and the workplace.

Focusing our MVVBG on the Four Questions
Question #1–What do we expect students to learn?
In world language classes, students learn to understand world cultures, practice the four skills (reading, listening, speaking and writing) in their target language, and develop linguistic proficiency and the ability to communicate.

Question #2–How will we know what students have learned?
We know what students have learned through formal assessments such as quizzes, tests, oral interviews and projects as well as informal assessments such as the ability to show respect for new cultures, class participation, and good attendance.

Question #3–How will we respond to students who aren’t learning?
Education is personal, and world language teachers respond to students as individuals. We provide tutors, before/after school reviews, online resources and in-class reteaching opportunities.

Question #4 –How do we respond to students who have already learned the material?
We provide all students acceleration options such as additional reading materials, movie suggestions, online resources, and access to native speakers. Exceptional students are encouraged to advance a level.