6-8 World Language
6-12 World Language Vision
The Ridgefield World Language Department believes that the ability to speak more than one language is necessary to become a successful participant in 21st-century society. We foster curiosity and respect for other cultures through a purposeful progression of authentic proficiency-based activities and experiences, empowering students to take risks using the target language, with the ultimate goal of preparing them to participate, collaborate, and problem-solve as global citizens.
Ridgefield Public Schools Middle School World Language department offers French and Spanish in grades 6-8.
Our learning community strives to develop students as global citizens who communicate in world languages; are curious to explore; and appreciate other cultures while embracing new challenges.
We believe in a holistic language learning experience for all students that includes study in: the target language, cultural context, and authentic experiences:
Communication/Language Acquisition
Learning a language and being able to communicate gives students the opportunity to become confident global citizens by fostering strong linguistic skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Embracing Cultures
Exposure to a new language develops a student’s understanding of the cultures in which the language is spoken.
Exploration
Learning a language at the Middle School level offers students their first exposure in a positive, supportive and creative classroom environment that inspires student curiosity and promotes higher-level thinking for continuous learning
ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines
The Common Core strand of Language is described for language learners through proficiency levels that outline three key benchmarks achieved in world language programs given sufficient instruction over time:
Novice (the beginning level, regardless of age or grade)
Intermediate
Advanced
Many factors influence the rate of progress through these three proficiency levels and the level learners acquire by the end of high school. Chief among those factors are time and the degree of immersion in the second language. Students who begin study of a language in middle school or high school generally acquire an intermediate level of proficiency.
World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages
The Common Core strands of Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening are captured in the standards for learning languages’ goal area of Communication, by emphasizing the purpose behind the communication:
Interpersonal (speaking + listening or writing + reading)
Interpretive (reading, listening, viewing)
Presentational (writing, speaking, visually representing)
