World Languages

What you should know about learning a language at KCD

The World Language Department at KCD strives to enable students to communicate skillfully and effectively in a foreign language, in addition to awakening and enhancing their appreciation of another people and its culture. To that end, we use a variety of teaching styles and approaches that are designed to reach all learners and their learning style.

Rosetta Stone, a web-based program, is available to students, faculty and staff JK-12 in 26 languages. Upper school students use Rosetta Stone on their laptops while the middle school students and teachers have access to a laptop cart. Rosetta Stone may be accessed from any location 24 hours a day and provides extra support in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Travel and homestay opportunities

Québec, Canada

Students in lower-level French classes have the opportunity to visit Canada during the Winter Carnival and stay with Quebecois families in addition to touring the local sites.

Italy and Greece

Students enrolled in Latin in grades 8-12 have the opportunity to travel to Italy and Greece during the month of June.

Spain

Spanish students have the opportunity to travel to Spain to experience Spanish culture and study Spanish art.

La Plata, Argentina

Argentine students live with a KCD family and attend classes for the month of February. During the month of June, KCD students live with a family from Argentina and attend classes. 2010 was the first year for this exchange.

Clermont-Ferrand, France

Upper level French students have the opportunity to participate in our exchange with Le Lycée Ste. Thècle in Clermont-Ferrand. One year, students from France live with KCD families and attend classes. The following year, KCD students live with French families and attend classes in addition to spending four days in Paris. This exchange was established in 2005.

Class wikis and blogs

• French teacher's class wiki
• French teacher’s class blog
• Samples of the listening activities used in upper level French
• Samples of the listening activities used in upper level Spanish
• Class books created by lower and upper school students

Día de los Muertos

Each November, Spanish students study the history, culture, and traditions associated with the Mexican Day of the Dead. In the Upper School, students participate in special activities such as the Ofrendas song or by creating their own ofrendas.

In the Lower School, this study crosses disciplines to include art, music, and enrichment through study of sugar skulls, Mexican folk dance, and traditional food and games associated with the celebration.

World language study at KCD

Lower School (JK - 4)

Lower school students take between 30 and 60 minutes of Spanish, depending upon their grade level.

Middle School

Fifth grade: Students take one trimester each of French, Latin, and Spanish two days a week. Teachers use text from the same series so that students can compare and contrast the different languages. At the end of the year, students choose the language they wish to take during grades 6 - 8.

Sixth-eighth grades: All students in these grades take a language four days a week. Seventh and eighth grade count as one upper school credit.

Upper School (9-12)

Students are required to earn three credits of one language (seventh/eighth grade = one credit) or two credits of one language and two credits of another language for graduation.