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Welcome! Bienvenue! Bienvenido! Willkommen! The World Languages (WL) Department would like to welcome you and your child to our French, German, and Spanish programs. We are extremely excited about our program and would like to take this opportunity to explain how it works, our expectations, and the wonderful curriculum that your child has in his or her future. For the remaining quarters of this year, your sixth grader will experience nine weeks of French, German, and Spanish. All three languages offer the same curriculum so that the students have the same base knowledge of each language. This curriculum includes basic conversation and introductory vocabulary. The final grade will be based on homework, class participation, oral and written tests, and a final exam. When nearing the end of sixth grade, the final grades of each student will be averaged. This average and the teachers’ recommendations will establish where the students will be placed; Standard World language WL or Practical WL. The students will receive a packet in order to make their first and second WL choices. We will do our best to accommodate the students, but it is a first come, first serve basis. The Standard level WL is offered in French, German, and Spanish. A student must have earned an average of 80% in their 6th grade WL classes in order to qualify. It is a two-year commitment that begins in seventh grade and continues through 8th grade, they may not switch languages 7th to 8th grade. The Standard level is recognized as another academic class with academic expectations. These students will regularly receive homework assignments and have tests/quizzes. The successful completion of the chosen language will lead to level II placement in high school. In order to be successful, a student must maintain a 70% in 7th grade and an 80% in 8th grade. This allows students to continue through the AP level in high school. If they are not successful, or choose not to continue, they will be placed in either the Cultural Language class or additional Fine and Applied Arts classes. The student may choose to switch languages once they are at the high school. If the student was not able to maintain an 80% in 6th grade he or she will be placed in a Practical language class in 7th grade and a Cultural language class in 8th grade. These courses are meant for students who may not be ready to take on another academic class, yet still have the opportunity to take a WL and have a positive experience. These classes are designed to go at the pace of the students through an exploratory, conversational, and cultural approach. The student does not get a choice of language. We rotate the languages so these students will get the opportunity to work with two different languages during their middle school experience when possible (based on enrollment). Students enrolled in the Practical and Cultural languages classes will begin the Level 1 WL of their choice at the high school. Our studies have shown that students who take these classes are very successful in WL in high school. |
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