Modern and Classical Languages

List of 7 items.

• Grade 5: Modern and Classical Languages

  The Grade 5 curriculum covers all the languages offered in the Middle School: French, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish. At the heart of this program is a travel journal-style workbook for the modern languages that brings learning to life with an immersive cultural and linguistic exploration of the people, places, and things that make each language unique. Through thematic units, hands-on projects, and conversational tasks, students will continue their learning of Spanish or build foundational language skills in French and Mandarin Chinese while gaining a deeper understanding of global communities. Each student will also spend a few weeks exploring Latin, using it as a window into the classical world and the roots of many modern languages.

• Chinese

  Chinese Intro A
  Chinese Intro A introduces learners to ideographic writing symbols and the melodic pronunciation system. Through videos, animations, cooking projects, and board games, students build their language foundation and begin to gain familiarity with the cultures influenced by the language. Learners explore a series of dialogues and video clips from various sources. They will learn basic tones and sentence structures needed for daily conversations related to greetings and asking questions. The course exposes students to a variety of learning strategies that will help them design their individual learning plans and reflect on their progress along the way. The course also offers graded readers and enrichment activities for more experienced learners.

  
  

  Chinese Intro B
  Following a thorough review of the previous year, Chinese Intro B presents new elements of language, culture, and history. This course continues to stress the acquisition and development of four key communication skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students continue to expand their mastery of the language through more frequent practice of speaking and listening exercises, creative writing, and reading short paragraphs. Vocabulary and grammar concepts are presented and practiced through a spiraling curriculum that builds upon prior knowledge. Major themes of study include describing daily routines, discussing school subjects and schedules, making phone calls to arrange social events, and expressing preferences regarding food and dining.

  
  

  Chinese Intermediate A
  Chinese Inter A continues to explore fundamental Chinese grammar and various vocabulary topics. In this course, students reinforce the language skills acquired in previous years and expand their studies in language patterns and sentence structures. Through discussions and practice of thematic units—including weather and seasons, shopping for clothing, and dining etiquette—students improve their communicative skills, reading comprehension, and writing proficiency. Through stories, dialogues, and culturally focused projects, students also appreciate diverse aspects of Chinese culture, learning to navigate real-world scenarios like bargaining in a market and using social phrases that express respect and politeness.

  
  

  Chinese Intermediate B
  Chinese Inter B provides students with a more in-depth understanding of Chinese vocabulary and syntax. In this course, students review the topics they have previously studied and find different ways to refine their communication by incorporating new language and forms explored this year. Through discussions and the practice of engaging topics—including transportation and getting around, housing and furniture, and asking for directions—students develop a wider range of vocabulary and fine-tune their reading and speaking skills according to varied contexts. Dialogues about culture introduce students to the geography of China, differences in housing styles, and the nuances of public transportation in major Chinese cities.

• French

  French Intro A 
  Students learn new vocabulary and grammar through themes that include: about me, around me, daily life, the environment, food, and leisure activities. Students master basic grammatical structures, including adjectives, asking and answering simple questions, and the conjugation of regular -er and common irregular verbs in the present tense. Students study grammar and culture in context through readings and film.
  
  

  French Intro B
  In French Intro B, students master the conjugation of all regular verbs (-er, -ir, -re) along with more irregular verbs in the present and passé composé. Grammar instruction focuses on interrogatives, adjective agreement and placement, prepositions, adverbs, and negation. Students are challenged to implement their skills by speaking extemporaneously and by writing more complex sentences in short compositions. Projects that focus on integrating grammar and Francophone culture are assigned. Students also read and discuss a short novel set during the 1937 International Exposition.
  
  

  French Intermediate A
  French Inter A is a transitional course between the Middle and Upper School French programs. Students learn more sophisticated vocabulary and review and refine basic grammatical structures, with a focus on mastering and differentiating when to use the passé composé and imperfect tenses. New grammar includes the usage of direct and indirect object pronouns and reflexive verbs. Students deliver oral presentations, read articles and short stories, and watch videos to enhance their comprehension.

• Latin

  Latin Intro A
  Latin is the ultimate interdisciplinary subject. Learning Latin grammar and vocabulary boosts students' mastery of English and even lends a kind of superpower to students who wish to study other languages, because Latin students develop a keen eye for detail, and many modern languages are related to or even descend directly from Latin. The Romans' impact on literature, religion, government, engineering, architecture, entertainment, and countless other areas continues to reverberate strongly in our own society. Latin students see linguistic and cultural connections everywhere. In this course, we will read Latin stories about numerous Greco-Roman myths, as well as about daily life for a Roman family living in the 1st century BCE.
  
  

  Latin Intro B
  This course picks up from the end of Latin Intro A, providing students with a fuller understanding of the basic mechanics of the Latin language and deeper insight into Roman history and the city of Rome itself. Translation skills are refined, with emphasis on both grammar comprehension and reading comprehension. Students are immersed in the historical context of the 40s BCE, a chaotic and fascinating period when Julius Caesar’s assassination shook Rome and precipitated a civil war from which the Roman Republic emerged as an Empire.
  
  

  Latin Intermediate A
  (will be offered 2027-2028)
  In this last full year of dedicated grammar instruction, students master the most sophisticated constructions of the language, such as the passive voice, indirect statements, and uses of the subjunctive mood; consequently, the language feels increasingly more dimensional and expressive. Students find their comprehension of English grammar and vocabulary expanded as well. The translations and historical readings in this course continue to follow Horace's life, from his philosophical schooling in Athens and service and defeat in Brutus' army at the battle of Pharsalus, to his final acclaim as Rome's poet laureate. The account of Horace's life coincides with the fall of the Republic and the emergence of the Roman Empire under Augustus.

• Spanish

  Spanish Intro A
  In Spanish Intro A, students begin building a grammatical foundation and acquire the vocabulary necessary for both written and oral expression. The course introduces fundamental grammatical structures, including nouns, pronouns, adjectives, regular –ar / –er / –ir verbs, common irregular verbs such as ser, estar, ir, and high-frequency stem-changing verbs in the present tense. Students also learn the near future tense (ir + a + infinitive) and become accustomed to applying subject-verb and noun-adjective agreement accurately. Vocabulary and culture are integrated through short readings and videos, with special attention to daily life and cultural comparisons between the United States and Spanish-speaking countries. Topics include food, animals, parts of the house, family relationships, and descriptive and possessive adjectives. Throughout the year, students demonstrate their learning through individual and group projects and presentations.
  
  

  Spanish Intro B
  Spanish Intro B reinforces listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills through the study of magazines, short readings, and cultural materials. Hands-on projects and explorations of cultural practices continue to play an important role in the curriculum. This year marks a significant stage of grammatical expansion. After reviewing the present tense and the near future, students begin their study of the preterite. They integrate the present tense, past tense, and near future into their writing and reading. Students also learn direct and indirect object pronouns, demonstrative adjectives and pronouns, reflexive verbs, and verbs like gustar. Vocabulary review includes countries and nationalities, physical descriptions, numbers, calendar expressions, weather, food, and parts of the house. Students then expand their lexicon to include vacations, clothing, and personal hygiene.
  
  

  Spanish Intermediate A
  Spanish Inter A allows students to consolidate and refine the grammar and vocabulary studied in previous years while learning new material to deepen written and oral communication. Use of the target language is maximized through discussions and student presentations. Grammar concepts include the preterite, direct and indirect object pronouns, demonstrative adjectives and pronouns, reflexive verbs, indefinite and negative words, verbs like gustar, the preterite of stem-changing verbs, comparative structures, and verbs that change meaning in the preterite. Students expand their vocabulary through cultural topics such as ordering in a restaurant, describing foods, comparing nutritional guidelines across countries, and exploring cultural celebrations in the Spanish-speaking world.
  
  

  Spanish Intermediate B 
  Spanish Inter B marks the transition from simple sentences to engaging storytelling. Students move beyond the present tense to master the preterite and imperfect tenses, enabling them to share detailed childhood memories, discuss historical legends, and narrate past events. The course heavily emphasizes interactive communication; students learn informal commands and object pronouns to give advice to friends and navigate social situations. Vocabulary units are tailored to the modern middle school experience, covering technology and social media habits, health and fitness, and daily routines. In keeping with the textbook’s "reporter" theme, students demonstrate their learning through creative hands-on projects, such as creating video blogs (vlogs), designing a childhood digital scrapbook, or filming a skit about a visit to the doctor.
  
  

  Spanish Intermediate C
  (will be offered 2027-2028)
  Spanish Inter C encourages students to look outward at the world and forward to their futures. As they advance, students learn to express personal opinions, hopes, and emotions using the subjunctive mood. The curriculum also expands their ability to discuss time, introducing the future tense to talk about high school and career goals, and the present perfect to discuss life experiences. Thematic units foster a sense of global citizenship, focusing on environmental stewardship, volunteering in the community, and future professions. Students solidify their skills through dynamic projects, such as presenting a "green" proposal for the school, conducting mock interviews for dream jobs, or creating a multimedia presentation on a specific Spanish-speaking region’s culture and challenges.

• Grade 7 Elective: Classics

  Latin is the ultimate interdisciplinary subject. Learning Latin grammar and vocabulary boosts students' mastery of English, and even lends a kind of superpower for students who wish to study other languages, because Latin students develop a keen eye for detail, and many modern languages are related to or even descend directly from Latin. The Romans' impact on literature, religion, government, engineering, architecture, entertainment, and countless other areas continue to reverberate strongly in our own society. Latin students see linguistic and cultural connections everywhere. In Classics A, we will read Latin stories about numerous Greco-Roman myths, as well as about the daily life for a Roman family living in the 1st century BCE. Classics A is the first year of a two-year program; the Classics A-B program prepares students to enter Latin II in the Upper School.

• Grade 8 Elective: Classics

  Classics B provides students a fuller understanding of the basic mechanics of the Latin language and deeper insight into Roman history and the city of Rome itself. Translation skills are refined, with emphasis on both grammar comprehension and reading comprehension. Students are immersed in the historical context of the 40s BCE, a chaotic and fascinating period when Julius Caesar’s assassination shook Rome and precipitated a civil war from which the Roman Republic emerged an Empire. This course covers the second book of the Oxford Latin Course. The Classics A-B program prepares students to enter Latin II in the Upper School.
  Prerequisite: Classics 7