Thank you for visiting the Foreign Language page at Morton Jr. High School! My name is Mindy Hartzler and I am the 7th and 8th grade World Language teacher at MJHS. My husband Dan and I live here in Morton with our two girls, Addison and Genevieve and our son Calvin. This is my 8th year of teaching, and 12th year in education.  I earned my bachelors degree in Sport and Tourism Management and Master degree in Educational Policy  from the University of Illinois. My career in education began as an academic advisor in the athletic departments at both Illinois and Wake Forest University. After teaching freshmen advisory courses at the collegiate level, I fell in love with teaching, and went on to pursue a  Master of Teaching from National Louis University. I love introducing students to new cultures and languages and seeing their excitement as they learn about the world around them, this position truly is a dream job! Prior to joining the amazing staff at MJHS, I taught high school history, career exploration, and special education math, both at the high school and elementary level.   

7th Grade (9 weeks): World Language Survey (Mandarin, Russian, and Arabic)

8th Grade (9 weeks): World Language Survey (Spanish & French)

In both the 7th and 8th grade foreign language courses, we will explore target language and cultures through several various methods and activities. Students will explore language through the TPRS® method (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling®) as well as through activities that incorporate TPS (Total Physical Response).  Students will be active in their learning, engaging in language acquisition as apposed to memorizing words or phrases. Gracias amigos y padres, looking forward to a great year!