The study of languages opens new worlds for children. They are not only learning to communicate in another tongue, they are partaking, little by little of another culture. “No nation has a separate future anymore.”(American Education, Vol.14) Students learning languages at a time in their lives when such learning is the most effective are becoming prepared for a life in that future.

Research tells us that children who have studied another language:

• Are significantly better at tasks requiring divergent thinking and figural creativity.
• Have the ability to excel in the pronunciation of a new language.
• Score higher on standardized tests in language arts, reading, science and math than non-second language learners.
• Show greater cognitive development in higher order thinking skills.
• Have an improved self-concept, sense of achievement and tolerance for other cultures.
• Store their second language in the same part of the brain as their first language making it easier to access.

5th Grade:

Focus: To introduce students to the first steps in language acquisition with emphasis on listening and speaking and to introduce different cultures as a step toward living in a global community.

• Interpersonal Communication: I can communicate on some very familiar topics using single words and phrases that I have practiced and memorized.
• Presentational Speaking: I can present information about myself and some other very familiar topics using single words or memorized phrases.
• Presentational Writing: I can copy some familiar words, characters, or phrases.
• Interpretive Listening: I can recognize a few memorized words and phrases when I hear them spoken.
• Interpretive Reading: I can recognize a few letters or characters. I can identify a few memorized words and phrases when I read.

6th Grade:

Focus: To introduce writing as a tool to improve reading spelling skills, and the understanding of simple grammatical concepts. To increase the student’s ability to comprehend and speak the target language.

• Interpersonal Communication: I can communicate on very familiar topics using a variety of words and phrases that I have practiced and memorized.
• Presentational Speaking: I can present information about myself and some other very familiar topics using a variety of words, phrases and memorized expressions.
• Presentational Writing: I can write lists and memorized phrases on familiar topics.
• Interpretive Listening: I can recognize some familiar words and phrases when I hear them spoken.
• Interpretive Reading: I can recognize some letters or characters. I can understand some learned or memorized words and phrases when I read.

7th Grade:

Focus: To continue to develop writing as a tool to improve reading, spelling skills, and the understanding of increasingly difficult grammatical concepts. To expand the student’s ability to comprehend and speak the target language and moving toward more unrehearsed conversations

• Interpersonal Communication: I can communicate and exchange information about familiar topics using phrases and simple sentences, sometimes supported by memorized language. I can usually handle short social interactions in everyday situations by asking and answering simple questions.
• Presentational Speaking: I can present basic information on familiar topics using language I have practiced using phrases and simple sentences.
• Presentational Writing: I can write short messages and notes on familiar topics related to everyday life.
• Interpretive Listening: I can often understand words, phrases, and simple sentences related to everyday life. I can recognize pieces of information and sometimes understand the main topic of what is being said.
• Interpretive Reading: I can understand familiar words, phrases, and sentences within short and simple texts related to everyday life. I can sometimes understand the main idea of what I have read.

8th Grade:

Focus: To continue to use writing as a tool to improve reading and the understanding of increasingly more difficult grammatical concepts. To enhance the student’s ability to comprehend and speak the target language in unrehearsed conversations.

• Interpersonal Communication: I can participate in unrehearsed conversations on a number of familiar topics. I can handle short social interactions in everyday situations by asking and answering authentic questions.
• Presentational Speaking: I can present information on most familiar topics using a series of sentences.
• Presentational Writing: I can write briefly about most familiar topics and present information using a series of sentences.
• Interpretive Listening: I can understand the main idea in short authentic messages and presentations on familiar topics. I can understand the main idea of authentic conversations that I overhear.
• Interpretive Reading: I can understand the main idea of short and simple texts when the topic is familiar.