Entering Grade 5, students enroll in a Modern and Classical Language Survey course that allows them to explore the languages offered in the Middle School: Mandarin Chinese, French, Latin and Spanish. At the end of Grade 5, students will have the opportunity to reflect on their experiences and choose the language they wish to pursue in Grades 6, 7, and 8, embarking on a path for deeper language learning and cultural connection. The Modern Language program is grounded in communication skills-building, exposure to authentic texts and a learner-centered approach to vocabulary and grammar. In Grade 7, students may elect to enroll in a two-year program in Latin, in addition to their current language. The Latin program fosters a detailed eye for language roots and structures as well as reading comprehension and historical empathy. All four language programs emphasize critical thinking dispositions and the importance of cultural understanding, inspiring learners to employ language as a lens for understanding the world beyond their own time and space.