Middle School

T

he Middle School offers Chinese, French, and Spanish courses. Any of these languages, taken through level 108, fulfills the Middle School modern language requirement.

Students entering 5^th grade choose Chinese, French, or Spanish. The goal of the four-year sequence is to introduce the elements of a Level I course and build the students’ confidence in aural-oral skills while strengthening the reading and writing skills. The programs introduce the students to the broader cultural environments of the Chinese, French, or Hispanic worlds.

After the “introductory” year, courses are categorized as “foundation,” “beginning,” “intermediary,” and “final.” By the end of the “foundation” sequence, a student is able to express ideas or talk about events in the present, the past, or the future. They can also suggest or order course of actions. Vocabulary and expressions belongs to their daily life. They also appreciate differences with their own culture. “

Sequence

5^th grade	6^th grade	7^th grade	8^th grade
Level 105 Introductory	Level 106 Foundation-beginning	Level 107 Foundation-intermediary	Level 108 Foundation-final

Notes

• Students must earn at least a final grade of C- in order to be promoted to the next level. Students receiving grades of D+ or below must successfully complete summer remedial work.

• Upon successful completion of the four-year sequence, the student’s performance in the eighth grade determines his placement in a Level II regular or honors section in the Upper School. Students placed in the honors section must have earned a grade of A- or above in a level 108 course.