World Languages

Program Overview

Welcome to the World Language Department! We are a comprehensive language department offering seven languages.

All languages offer a minimum of four years. Honors and Advanced Placement courses currently are offered in Spanish, French, Italian, German and Chinese.

Our curriculum is aligned to the National State Standards, ACTFL standards and CTCore.

Below you will find the complete list of languages and some frequently asked questions.

Please see the GHS Course of Study Guide for additional information.

Language Overview

American Sign Language

American Sign Language (ASL) is one of the top five languages in the U.S. today. Increasingly, parents are using sign language to communicate with their babies since babies can learn to sign earlier than they can learn to speak. ASL is a popular class at Greenwich High School for visual learners, especially, for students who wish to pursue careers working in education and special needs, and for students who enjoy the dramatic arts.

Mandarin Chinese

China is one of the world’s oldest and richest cultures. It is over 5,000 years old. Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken first language in the world. Learning Mandarin opens the way to important fields such as Chinese politics, economics, history and archaeology. China is one of the largest trading partners of the United States. Many U.S. companies conduct business in China. Chinese speakers are valued in the business world.

French

German

What do German, Austrian and Swiss teenagers like you enjoy? What are their favorite sports and sports teams, what music is popular, and what’s in fashion? What are German pretzels, cakes and chocolate like? Have fun learning about German language and culture, and about the largest economy in the European Union. Knowing German will be a big plus in preparing for an international career. You will be amazed at how quickly you’ll start to speak this important world language.

Italian

Spanish

Latin

Carpe diem!
Latin isn’t dead; it is alive everywhere you look. Join Dr. Seuss and Eudora Welty in their love of Latin.
"It allows you to adore words, take them apart and find out where they came from." (Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss), NY Times, 2 March 2004)
“It took Latin to thrust me into bona fide alliance with words in their true meaning. Learning Latin...fed my love for words, words in continuation and modification, and the beautiful accretion of sentences...” (Eudora Welty, One Writer’s Beginnings, p.31)

Program Contact Information

Ms. Christina Shaw
GHS World Language Administrator
christina_shaw@greenwich.k12.c.t.us
203-863-8845

Ms. MariSol Yika
Program Associate
marisol_yika@greenwich.k12.ct.us

For information on World Language course overrides, please contact:

Mr. Geoffrey Schenker

Program Coordinator

geoffrey_schenker@greenwich.k12.ct.us

203-863-1374

The best way to contact a teacher is via email. Please see the Staff Directory for email addresses.

Awards

Each year, the GHS World Language department hosts an award night to honor students for Academic Excellence, Communication, Effort, Participation, Realization of Potential and Commitment to the Study for Foreign Languages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible for my child to enroll in more than one world language in 9th grade?

Is a world language required for graduation from Greenwich High School?

Can my child switch languages if he does not want to continue with the language he/she began in middle school?

Students have the option to continue with the language they began in middle school or to begin one of the other foreign language offerings described in this brochure. We encourage students to achieve their highest possible level of language acquisition. If they begin a new language at Greenwich High School, they will have the opportunity to reach level four in that language by their senior year.

Seal of Biliteracy

As a result of Public Act 17-29 section 1(f), Greenwich Public Schools will award students the Seal of Biliteracy to provide immediate recognition of critical 21st century language and communication skills. This award is given by a school district in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in English and one or more other languages by high school graduation. It also acknowledges that the mastery of two or more languages is a valuable asset for both individuals and their communities. In addition, the Seal of Biliteracy provides recognition to English Learners for the great value of developing English while maintaining their primary language.

Seniors may demonstrate proficiency in multiple languages through one of the two pathways outlined below. They must achieve the designated level of language proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. They may demonstrate the state-determined level of English proficiency, which includes the successful completion of all English language arts requirements for graduation, the completion of advanced English for Speakers of Other Language courses for English learners (intermediate level 3 or higher) as well as one or more additional languages in grade 10, 11, or 12. The Seal of Biliteracy will be added to the transcripts of graduating seniors who have earned this recognition by the summer following graduation.

Pathways to earn a Seal of Biliteracy:

GHS seniors are eligible for a Seal of Biliteracy if they successfully meet the English Reading and Writing Performance Standards for GHS graduation requirements AND successfully complete Pathway A or B outlined below.

Pathway A: Students who demonstrate proficiency with a score of 3 or higher on a World Language AP exam will be awarded the Seal of Biliteracy automatically on their transcript by the summer following the completion of senior year. There is no need to complete a form to apply for the Seal using this Pathway.
Pathway B: Students who score an Intermediate mid-level score or higher in all four language domains (reading, writing, listening and speaking) on a computerized language proficiency assessment in the target language will earn the Seal of Biliteracy.

Seniors enrolled in upper level language courses will receive information about how to apply to earn this Seal from their World Language teacher. Seniors who are not enrolled in upper level language courses, but speak one of the languages that can be tested in order to earn the Seal, can reach out directly to the World Language program administrator for more information. Language proficiency testing is available in the following languages that are offered at GHS: Italian, Chinese (Mandarin), Spanish, French, and German. It is also available in other languages NOT offered at GHS, including, but not limited to, Arabic, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Russian. The ALIRA is a reading assessment available to seniors who have studied Latin who can earn the Seal with an intermediate score of 3 or higher.

GHS can arrange for candidates to take an online language proficiency assessment in a proctored setting. At GHS, a date for testing will be scheduled in the spring. All that is needed are computers meeting the minimum technical specifications, which will be handled by the district, in an appropriate test environment. Assessment results are posted and stored on a utility website, allowing schools to track their testing activity easily in a single location.

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