World Language
With great enthusiasm and highest expectations,
THE STRATFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS WORLD LANGUAGE/ESOL DEPARTMENT
Welcomes you to our website!
We are very pleased to offer the rewards of world language study as part of each child's comprehensive
education. Every student has the opportunity to benefit from a wide variety of individual study areas, which combine to contribute to a lifetime of intellectual growth, productivity, satisfaction, and well-being.
Why study foreign and classical languages?
"Foreign language instruction should be a part of every child's education. A language is more than sounds and syntax: it is a culture, a way of thinking, and a perspective on the world. Each language is a precious resource that must be studied, used, and preserved precisely because a language opens the mind to new possibilities. The study of language is the study of life, literature, history, and thought. It is nothing less than the study of our world and ourselves." Former Secretary of Education, Rod Paige
Research has shown that foreign language study:
• enhances cognitive development and raises academic achievement.
• promotes greater mental flexibility, creativity, divergent thinking, and higher order thinking skills.
• strengthens first language proficiency and enhances listening and memory skills,
• engenders positive attitudes toward cultural diversity.
• improves standardized test scores and casts favorable light on college admissions.
• expands career opportunities in today's competitive, increasingly global society and market.
How do we accomplish all of this? By beginning with the 5 C's of World Language study!
• Communication - learning to listen, speak, read & write in a language, which may be new to you, or advancing those skills in a language of which you already have a growing knowledge.
• Culture - learning to appreciate the fascinating and often unique qualities of a people whose cul-ture is expressed and often shaped by that language.
• Connections - learning to access information from worlds of knowledge to which a monolingual speaker may only partially enter, if at all.
• Comparisons - learning to comprehend the nature of language and culture and that the world can be viewed in multiple ways. Such insights strengthen one's knowledge of one's own language and culture.
• Communities - learning to interrelate personally, culturally, and appropriately in multilingual communities in a variety of contexts at home and around the world.
How can we accomplish all this?
By being attentive, adventurous, cooperative, industrious, and sensitive!
Foreign language study challenges the mind, spirit, and body simultaneously. Constant practice is vital!
Our secondary curriculum offers sequential courses in Spanish, French, and Latin. French and Spanish represent the 2nd and 3rd most influential modern languages in the world after English. Latin is their ever-present foundation stone and source of abundant cognates and linguistic treasure.
• High School course levels typically run 1-5 AP/ECE with Honors sections in Spanish 2, 3, & 4, French 4, & Latin 4.
• Middle School French and Spanish course levels typically run 1a in 7th grade and 1b in 8th, which when combined equate to a high school level one course. 8th graders may elect level 2 French or Spanish courses or elect Latin 1 in 9th grade.
• Students wishing to learn a language not available here may apply to the Southern CT Language & Cultural Exposure Program, which is affiliated with Yale University.
• All courses feature modern texts with ample supporting instructional and technological materials including new wireless, portable language labs and Rosetta Stone programming.
English Language Learners (ELLs) may enroll in sheltered English, American History, and Resource classes, where they receive specialized help and guidance. Teacher aides also accompany students to provide support in other mainstream classes i.e. math, science, the arts and other electives. (At Stratford High only)
Foreign Language in Elementary School) (FLES) – Spanish instruction is currently offered to all stu-dents in grades K – 4. FLES will gradually expand to include grades 5-6 resulting in a seamless K-12 program.
For a complete description of course offerings, please access our Program of Studies.
"Because the study of language and culture is inextricably intertwined, students of language and culture are better equipped to communicate with people in other cultures in a variety of settings, to look beyond their customary borders, and to act with greater awareness of self, of other cultures, and their own relationship to those cultures."
National Standards in Foreign Language Education Project
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