WPS World Language Department

Overview

The Winchester Public Schools strives to provide a robust, proficiency-focused world language program to all students beginning in grade 6. Students will develop linguistic and cultural competencies to allow them to thrive in an increasingly global and culturally diverse world. Upon entering McCall Middle School, students choose to study French, Italian, Mandarin, or Spanish and have the additional option to study Latin beginning in grade 9 at Winchester High School.

The world language program employs proficiency-based language learning methodologies consistent with the Massachusetts Curriculum Framework (2021) and the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines. Through the proficiency model, students will build their interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication skills in the target language. Students who continue to study a language will have the opportunity to demonstrate competency in a language other than English and earn the Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy.

The Winchester Public Schools World Language Department goals are aligned with those outlined in the Massachusetts Curriculum Framework:

• understand, interpret, and analyze what is heard, read, or viewed,

• interact and negotiate meaning in spontaneous signed, spoken, or written conversations, 

• present information, concepts, and ideas,

• interact appropriately with others in and from another culture,

• gain cultural competence and understanding,

• develop insight into the nature of language and culture,

• connect with other disciplines and acquire information and diverse perspectives,

• engage and responsibly collaborate with a variety of multilingual communities,

• develop and employ social and emotional skills,

• serve and lead in the community