World Language
At MPH, we believe that proficiency, and ideally, fluency, in a world language is the gateway to global citizenship. We value the study of languages not only for the immediate practical benefits, but also for the way in which learning a new language enables the student to learn a new culture, and thereby see their own more clearly. MPH offers instruction in French, Latin, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Students often pursue their language of choice through the most advanced courses, and many also take advantage of our international travel and immersion programs.
Small classes are essential to MPH’s excellence in language instruction. Students are immersed in the cultural products of the countries whose language they are studying. They may do as the Romans did, prepare a Spanish meal, read a French magazine, or watch a Chinese film. Because the study of a world language entails a progressive acquisition of linguistic skills, our program is intentional in its vertical articulation.
Courses
Foundations in Spanish (6th Grade)
This course is an exploration of language and culture, using the language as the vehicle for developing communication skills. Each day, students will develop their competence in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with interactive lessons, conversations, and practical topics centered around daily life. The language is presented within the context of exchanging personal information and storytelling in historical contexts as well as the present day. Emphasis is placed on the students’ ability to develop a passion for lifelong learning of a second language with increasing independence using the three skills of communication in a real-world context.
Foundations in French (6th Grade)
This course is designed to introduce students to the French language and culture through exposure to and repetition of the spoken and written language. Students will be able to identify basic daily exchanges in French and communicate in spoken and written French on a variety of practiced topics with memorized phrases and expressions. They will also present basic information on these learned topics. Emphasis will be placed on listening, speaking, reading, and writing in French at an introductory level. Students will be able to read signs, labels, and simple texts with repeated expressions and phrases in the target language. They will be exposed to many cultural aspects throughout the francophone world through readings, movies, songs, and projects.
Spanish 1A (7th Grade)
Spanish 1a is an immersion course designed with acquisition-driven instruction principles and a proficiency-oriented approach. Students develop their communication skills by understanding and participating in conversations, storytelling, reading, and writing about daily life topics in present, past, and future tenses. It provides a path to novice mid proficiency based on high-frequency words, grammar, and cultural themes of the Spanish-speaking world. Students begin to develop knowledge and understanding of Spanish-speaking cultures as well as geography, art, music, and history.
French 1A (7th Grade)
This course is designed to support students’ communication skills by daily practice in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students will learn to describe and discuss familiar everyday situations and begin to write independently with familiar sentences structures. Students will also be able to understand a series of connected sentences in readings and writing. Culturally, students will be able to make comparisons and connections between their own culture and other practices.
Latin 1A (7th Grade)
Students may begin their study of Latin in the 7th grade. The primary objectives of this Latin class are to comprehend the language for reading purposes as well as to enhance the knowledge of classical civilization. Students also enrich their vocabulary daily through the role of Latin roots in English derivatives. Finally, students will become more familiar with the vast world of ancient Rome and its influence on our own world.
Spanish 1B (8th Grade)
Spanish 1B is an immersion course is designed with acquisition-driven instruction principles and a proficiency-oriented approach. Students will develop communicative competence through interactive lessons, leveled readings, class discussions, and daily shared writing. Through a series of genre-based units, students will develop their ability to interpret and express meaning in the language, in various language functions: describing, narrating, narrating for significance, informing, stating opinions, and constructing text-based arguments. These functions will be incorporated in a variety of communicative contexts, for example, at home, in school, at work, when traveling, while shopping, and playing. Students will perform these tasks with an appropriate level of accuracy in interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication, and maintain a portfolio of work samples demonstrating their growth. Through contextualized, daily work with language features that apply to the various functions and topics, students will improve their accuracy in writing and speaking.
French 1B (8th Grade)
French 1B is an immersion course is designed with acquisition-driven instruction principles and a proficiency-oriented approach. Students will develop communicative competence through interactive lessons, leveled readings, class discussions, and daily shared writing. Through a series of genre-based units, students will develop their ability to interpret and express meaning in the language, in various language functions: describing, narrating, narrating for significance, informing, stating opinions, and constructing text-based arguments. These functions will be incorporated in a variety of communicative contexts, for example, at home, in school, at work, when traveling, while shopping, and playing. Students will perform these tasks with an appropriate level of accuracy in interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication, and maintain a portfolio of work samples demonstrating their growth. Through contextualized, daily work with language features that apply to the various functions and topics, students will improve their accuracy in writing and speaking.
Latin 1B (8th grade)
The Latin 1B course develops awareness and mastery of Latin grammar. The course stresses proficiency in a language based on endings rather than word order. Vocabulary building is fundamental. Latin forms and endings are practiced and drilled daily. While the ultimate goal is translating sentences from Latin to English, there is also the practice of translating from English to Latin. Classical pronunciation is used. The class emphasizes the impact of Greek and Roman civilizations on literature, culture, and art.