World Language

World Languages Mission Statement

The mission of the World Languages Department is to develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in the target language, and to lead students to an understanding of the relationship between language and culture. Students will communicate, examine culture, connect new knowledge with other disciplines, compare languages, and experience community. By comparing the language of study with their native language, students can enhance their understanding of language structures and cultural practices in both languages. Furthermore, students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the practices, products, and perspectives of the culture studied in ways that recognize, respect, and reverence the dignity inherent in peoples of the culture studied. Through our program, students will strive to use the language in multilingual communities both within and beyond the school setting and show evidence of becoming lifelong learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment.

World Languages Trajectory

In the middle school, incoming Priory 6th graders will choose an introductory course in Spanish, French, or Mandarin. Students will proceed to Level 1A in 7th grade and then Level 1B in 8th grade in their chosen language. Each of these courses is introductory in nature and students joining the Priory high school will begin at Level 2 in 9th grade.

In the upper school, students returning from Priory Middle School will enter Level 2 of their chosen language. New 9th grade students will take a placement test in order to determine which level is most appropriate to begin their language study. Course progression in each language follows through levels 1-4, then honors 5 or AP language/literature options.

French IA

Course Length: Year

Open to Grades: 7

Prerequisites: Intro to World Language
Estimated hours of homework per class period: 10 minutes

World Language IA focuses on French, Mandarin or Spanish and covers the first half of high school level I curriculum and uses the same texts as the high school.
French IB

Course Length: Year

Open to Grades: 8

Prerequisites: World Language IA
Estimated hours of homework per class period: 10 minutes

This course builds on oral and written comprehension as well as reading and listening skills. The students will continue to acquire practical vocabulary and advanced grammar structure (irregular and reflexive verbs, past tense, imperfect, future, present conditional, direct and indirect pronouns, relative, possessive, demonstrative pronouns, and adverbs. The students will work with videos, films, and songs, read various children's books, write their own poems, and essays, and illustrate them. They will do different projects and continue to learn about French culture and the Francophonie. Students are able to express themselves fluently in French. Completing this course will provide the students with a sound background for French 2.
Mandarin IA

Course Length: Year

Open to Grades: 7

Prerequisites: Intro to World Language

Estimated hours of homework per class period: 25 minutes

Mandarin 1A course develops beginning learners' functional language ability—the ability to use Mandarin Chinese in linguistically and culturally appropriate ways at the beginning level. It helps students acquire communicative competence in Chinese while sensitizing them to the links between language and culture.

Welcome to Priory Mandarin Classes
Mandarin IB

Course Length: Year

Open to Grades: 8

Prerequisites: Mandarin IA

Estimated hours of homework per class period: 30 minutes

World Language IB focuses on French, Mandarin or Spanish and covers the second half of high school level I curriculum and uses the same texts as the high school. Upon completion of this course with a C or better, students are eligible for high school level II language.

Welcome to Priory Mandarin Classes
Spanish IA

Course Length: Year

Open to Grades: 7

Prerequisites: Intro to World Language

Estimated hours of homework per class period: 15 minutes

This course is introductory in nature and is designed to provide the student with the fundamentals of Spanish grammar and vocabulary while learning about the various cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to communicate with others in Spanish using basic listening, speaking,
reading, and writing skills.
Spanish IB

Course Length: Year

Open to Grades: 8

Prerequisites: World Language IA

Spanish 1B builds upon the achievement and proficiency objectives of Spanish 1. After a short review, the student will then continue to develop their comprehension, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking skills. This course also allows the students to get involved in Spanish culture. The completion of this course will provide the student with a sound background for Spanish 2.
Introduction to French

Course Length: Semester
Open to Grades: 6
Prerequisites: None
Estimated hours of homework per class period: 10 minutes

This class is an introduction to the French language. Students learn fundamental grammar and basic vocabulary. They study the present tense of regular verbs and some irregular verbs, the near future, and the recent past. They learn how to introduce themselves, to count, to describe themselves, to talk about the family, the class subjects, the hobbies, the market, the colors, the house, the weather, the time, the days of the week, the months, and the seasons. All vocabulary and grammar are paired with a variety of activities to reinforce and motivate learning with joy, using audio-visual and kinesthetic methods: songs, games, poems, stories, baking, dialogues, puppet show, and projects. No textbooks are required. Different stories are chosen from which the vocabulary, the grammar and songs are learned.
Introduction to Mandarin

Course Length: Semester
Open to Grades: 6
Prerequisites: None

Estimated hours of homework per class period: 20 minutes

World Language 6 as an introduction to the language and culture of French, Mandarin, and Spanish. Homework is minimal and the emphasis is on speaking and listening. Each language is a separate class: Introduction to French, Introduction to Mandarin, and Introduction to Spanish.
Introduction to Spanish

Course Length: Semester
Open to Grades: 6
Prerequisites: None

This course focuses on conversational Spanish, starting with Spanish basics. The course introduces everyday language and includes activities to practice all four language skills: reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension, and speaking. The goal is to introduce students to a 1A proficiency level. After completing this course, students will be prepared to introduce themselves, ask basic questions, and conduct a brief conversation in Spanish. Reference materials will be used, cultural notes, grammar explanations, functions of language, etc. Students will be able to monitor their progress by taking a number of oral and written assessments and a final achievement test.