REVISED+WLD+Philosophy

=WLD Philosophy=

code The World Language Department of the Laboratory Schools has the following philosophy of world language teaching:

To foster an attitude of openness and appreciation of language, culture and history; To empower students to function effectively and appropriately in another language; To instill a disciplined and serious attitude toward language learning while developing an awareness of the individual process of language acquisition.

University High School offers French, German, Latin, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Every student is required to study at least one world language in a two-year consecutive sequence; however, the department encourages students to continue their study beyond this two-year requirement in order to develop true proficiency. Because we are a college preparatory school, most students continue their language study for a third and a fourth year. Students may, and many do, take more than one language. Students who are already fluent in a world language must select another language at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. We do not offer a program for bilingual students. Such students may take the Advanced Placement Exam in the language in which they are fluent, but may not take the Advanced Placement course in that language.

University High School students will gain proficiency in a world language and be exposed to the cultures of their chosen language in a number of ways. Modern language instruction will include the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. In Latin, emphasis is placed on reading proficiency and written expression. Students who perform consistently well in the two-year sequence can expect to gain a sound foundation in grammar and the ability to function at an elementary level in speaking, listening comprehension, reading and writing. Students may have the opportunity to travel to China, France, Germany, or a Spanish-speaking country with the school-sponsored exchange programs and to use their language skills in these respective countries.

Students new to University High School must list a first and second world language choice. These students will be given a placement interview by a world language teacher in the department who will make a recommendation to the department chair regarding the best placement for the student.

Students must consult their current world language teacher for correct world language course registration for the next year. The World Language Department will verify online registrations to ensure that students are properly placed. Placement in any course other than the next course in a sequence requires prior written approval by the student's current teacher together with the consent of the department chair. If a student wishes to change levels either to a higher or a lower level course in a course sequence, he or she must consult his or her current teacher, the World Languages Chairperson and his or her counselor. In exceptional circumstances, a student may be allowed to move to a more advanced level or sequence. Before being allowed to move into a more advanced level, he or she must do the following:

1) have a final grade of an A 2) the teacher's permission 3) complete summer course work 4) show proof of the course work and a grade 5) take a written and oral exam during the first week of school before officially being registered for the higher level course.

Students may not register for a world language class, or change to a different level world language class, after the fourth week of the Fall Quarter. Again, any changes must be done with consent of the department chair.

All world language courses are offered provided that there is sufficient enrollment or unless otherwise indicated below.

code