Foreign Languages

Through the teaching of Spanish and French, the Smith School’s Language Department hopes to improve students’ communications skills in general as well as in their specific target language of choice. The study of a Foreign Language exposes our students to different cultures,  new ideas and more importantly, diverse points of view. This helps develop empathy and understanding in students which remains as essential in our society today as it always was. Moreover, being able to effectively communicate in more than one language provides students with more tools to navigate future career options. 

As a way to enrich their experience, the students participate in several cultural activities that celebrate the diversity of both the French and Spanish speaking world. These activities include school trips, film screenings, dance classes, themed potlucks and spelling  competitions. In cooperation with the Music Department, the students have the chance to express themselves using music in their target language.

The students begin the 9th grade having chosen the language they will pursue throughout their high school career. The focus in French and Spanish for both 9th and 10th grade is to lay solid foundations in grammar and vocabulary and provide the students with the verbal communication skills they need in order to fully grasp the target language. The students begin working with simple writing and reading assignments regarding culture and traditions of the countries that speak the target languages. This helps them express their ideas and opinions in a new way. 

At the level of 11th and 12th grade, the students are working with more challenging grammar and vocabulary as well as cultural topics. The verb tenses studied expand the students’ capabilities in verbal expression as well as written. It is the goal to have them speak comfortably using dialogues as well as oral presentations. By the time the students reach the 12th grade, the students are capable of reading more complex material and are writing essays based on their reading.