World Languages

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. 

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 is the language of diplomacy, international agencies, cuisine, art, fashion, and business. You already have a head start since about 50% of English vocabulary comes from French! Join us at Greenwich High School to learn to speak, read, write, and most importantly, enjoy the culture of France and the richness of its language.

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.

Ciao a tutti!! Learn the most beautiful sounding language and all about its incredible culture and traditions. Italy is a leader in today’s world in food, fashion, cars and sports. Everyone wants to be Italian, find out why! Join us on our trip to Italy during spring break and explore firsthand the riches Italy has to offer. Arrivederci!

¡Bienvenidos! Spanish is one of the easiest foreign languages to learn. Much of its vocabulary is similar to English, and written Spanish is almost completely phonetic. Join us as we explore not just the language but also the diverse cultures that speak this exciting language: Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico, to name a few!

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)