Office of the Assitant Superintendent  

February 18, 2008

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
World Language

 

Elementary Schools: Spanish
Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School: Spanish, French, German, Conversational Portuguese
In addition to developing a life long ability to communicate with more people, knowing a language in addition to English provides access to authentic literature, music, art, and culture. Learning a world language reinforces understanding of one’s first language, develops communicative competence, strengthens reading and writing skills, and opens the door to a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the richness of diverse cultures (Massachusetts Foreign Languages Curriculum Framework, 1999).
Knowing more than one language also provides a competitive advantage in the workforce by opening up additional job opportunities in the United States and abroad.
The primary goal in the teaching of World Languages is to generate in our students enthusiasm for communicating in the language as well as to encourage students to learn about the cultures of the people who speak that language.