Boston Globe Article: "Biting into foreign tongues"

An article on elementary language programs was just published in the Boston Globe, and our program here in Arlington was referred to:
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/arlington/articles/2012/05/17/some_elementary_foreign_language_programs_losing_ground_as_budget_cuts_take_toll/

We are proud to have expanded our language program in the high school, now offering students four language choices (French, Latin, Mandarin and Spanish), and are confident we will continue to expand and grow our programs in the district.

Congratulations to the National Latin Exam Winners!

In March, 57 eighth grade students participated in the National Latin Exam, a multi-national test given to Latin students in middle and high school. This year's exam was given to over 136,000 students in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan,New Zealand, Poland, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, and Taiwan. The test is a forty-question multiple choice exam that covers general knowledge of Latin grammar and vocabulary, mythology, ancient Roman customs, English/Latin derivatives, and translation abilities. Eleven Ottoson students earned awards on this year's Latin 1 exam. We are so proud of their hard work and outstanding achievements in Latin this year!

Congratulations (or Gratulationes in Latin) to all the winners!

Gold Medal/Summa Cum Laude:
Linnea Berryman

Silver Medal/Maxima Cum Laude:
Vielle Roby
Tess LaValley
Allison Stillerman
Daytawn Campbell
Ian Bernardin

Cum Laude Certificate:
Michaela Farmer
Megan McKenna
Gabriela Rivera
Ramsey Talameh
Katya Donovan

The Study of Spanish Artists Brings Culture & Language Into the Classroom

In Emmy Robinson’s Spanish class, students have been presenting a cultural project that allowed them to delve into the lives of a Spanish artist of their choice. Ms. Robinson asked students to choose any artist they were interested in as the focus of their project: from painters to sculptors to musicians to architects. Students researched the artist, prepared a presentation to share with the class, and created an original piece of art in the style of the artist. The presentations were, of course, done entirely in Spanish! And the artwork these students created was truly amazing. Students made architectural models, painted, made sculptures, and one boy even wrote and played a song on his guitar, which he then embedded on Glogster for his presentation. This is the perfect example of what we in the world language department strive for: marrying cultural understanding with linguistic ability. Bravo to the students for their excellent work!

Student painting in the style of Oswaldo Guyasamín, by Ashley Smith

Student Architectural Model in the style of Santiago Calatrava, by Julia Erskine and Anahis Kechejian

Student Rendering of Painting by José Manuel Merello, by Lisa Lucero and Jessie Page  

Student Architectural Model in the style of Santiago Calatrava, by Will White

Teachers Attend MaFLA "Diversity Day"

Three members of the World Language Department attended the annual "Diversity Day" on Saturday, May 5th, in Newton. This professional day is sponsored by the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association and focuses on culturally and pedagogically enriching lectures and discussions for various languages: French, Latin, Mandarin and Spanish.

Merridith Minerd, who teaches Spanish at Ottoson Middle School, attended the Spanish strand, where she learned about Medieval Spain, Project-Based Learning through Spanish Film, and Feminism in Latin American literature.

Ed Foley, who teaches Latin at Arlington High School, attended the Latin strand, where he learned about Ovid in Renaissance Art, Teaching Aphrodite, and Active Latin Pedagogy.

Catherine Ritz, who teaches French and Spanish in Arlington High School, attended the French strand, where she learned about the Culture of Maghreb, Cultural Diversity in Martinique, and Discovering the French Carribean.

To learn more about this important professional conference, please go to www.mafla.org or click here.

Ottoson Moving Up Night

Ottoson 6th grade world languages teachers, Anne Zachary and Cassandra Mea, along with director Catherine Ritz, welcomed parents of incoming 6th graders at "Moving Up Night" on April 26 in the middle school. Anne teaches French and Spanish in the 6th grade, and Cassandra teaches Latin and Spanish in the 6th grade. Parents were given an overview of the language program in the middle school, were able to chat with teachers and ask questions, and looked at samples of work from older students. If you were unable to come, please feel free to get in touch with us via email if you have any questions about our program!

TCLP Grant Awarded for 2012-2013

We are thrilled and delighted to announce that Arlington Public Schools has been awarded the TCLP (Teachers of Critical Languages) Grant for the second year in a row! The following is excerpted from the letter we received from the U.S. Department of State:

"On behalf of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the State Department, I am delighted to inform you that Arlington High School has been selected to host a teacher of Chinese as part of the 2012-2013 Teachers of Critical Languages Program.

The Teachers of Critical Languages Program is one of several State Department initiatives that support U.S. youth, students, teachers, and professors in learning critical world languages through instruction in the U.S. and abroad. In particular, this program is designed to help U.S. schools and districts expand Mandarin and Arabic foreign language programs.

The U.S. Department of State has sponsored 127 teachers of Arabic and Mandarin under this program since 2006. These teachers have contributed to developing and existing critical need language programs at the elementary and secondary level in over 30 different U.S. states."

AHS Announces France Exchange for 2012-2013

The France Exchange is back for the 2012-2013 school year! Ms. Lahey's longstanding exchange program will see some changes this year, however. First, we will be exchanging students with a new school: the Lycée Saint Aspais in Melun, France. We will also be using the company Prométour to help with travel arrangements and provide health insurance for students.

The French students will be coming early November to stay for just under two weeks, and then we will be travelling to France to stay with them over April vacation. Only juniors and seniors who are enrolled in French during the 2012-2013 school year will be allowed to travel. And, priority will be given to students who are able to host French students in their house.

Our initial itinerary with pricing is available by clicking here. You can also view the tentative itinerary of the French students during their stay by clicking here.

*Please note! We can take approximately 25 students. We will try to accommodate everyone, but to be fair, students will be enrolled on a first-come/first-served basis. This will be determined by the order in which you bring in your $500 deposit check. Please make the check out to Prométour. We will accept checks from Thursday, March 28 to Thursday, April 6. You may only bring them to Ms. Lahey, who will keep track of the order in which they were received.


Please see Ms. Lahey or Ms. Ritz with any questions!