|
|
AP Latin Class at Museum of Fine Arts
December 3, 2012
The AP Latin class visiting the newly opened Greek and roman coin collection gallery
|
WHS Latin Scholars Recognized
Nearly 100 High School students participated in this year?s National Latin Exam. Below are the students who received awards for their performance.
|
Summa cum Laude, Gold Medal |
Akiva Gordon |
|
Maxima cum Laude, Silver Medal |
Elias Breindel
Leland Ko
Andrew Li
Emmanuel Lorusso
Joanna Tao
Any Yee
|
|
Magna cum Laude |
Naomi Silverstein
Julia Brown
Ramesh Nagarajah
Matthew Beaudry
Harmanjot Bharj
Jun Byun
Marwan Kallal
Samantha Marchiony
Peter Banks
Wendy Dong
Emily Pesek
Eric Reeder
Pravina Samaratunga
Nathan Ko
|
|
Cum Laude |
Jay Messina
Davis Clark
Kevin Liu
Jason Bui
Dana Heilbronner
Molly McGinty
|
|
|
AP Spanish Language Class Visits MIT
Friday, November 9, 2012
As part of the unit on Global Challenges and Science and Technology, Ms Liliana Smith's AP Spanish Language class went to MIT and attended a conference by Dr. Roberto Rigobon (father of Daniel ’14 and Alexandra ’11). Dr. Rigabon is a Society of Sloan Fellows Professor of Applied Economics at the Sloan School of Management, MIT, a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research, and a member of the Census Bureau’s Scientific Advisory Committee.
The conference about Natural Disasters and Economics was given entirely in Spanish.
After lunch, we visited the MIT museum looking for objects that would answer the following essential questions:
|
• How do developments in science and technology affect our lives?
• What factors have driven innovation and discovery in the fields of science and technology?
• What role does ethics play in scientific advancement?
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
WHS Students Earn Honors in National Latin Exam
The National Latin Exam seeks to provide every Latin student the opportunity to experience a sense of personal accomplishment and success in his study of the Latin language and culture. The basic purposes of the NLE are to promote the study of Latin and to encourage the individual student.
See the full announcement for the list of winners of the 2012 National Latin Exam.
|
|
|
WHS announces three inductees into
The National Chinese Honor Society
Please congratulate Grace Harper, Antoine Bichara, and Jackie Wu for their achievement.
The National Chinese Honor Society was established to acknowledge the superior achievement of secondary students studying Chinese as a second language. Inductees exhibit high scholastic achievement, good character, leadership, and service.
See the full announcement
|
Chinese language students celebrate
Chinese New Year 2012
with community members
Sunday, January 29, 2012
See Photo Gallery
|
|
|
Congratulations to the students
who were recognized by the Foreign Language Department
for excellence in 2012
Foreign Language Undergraduate Achievement Awards and awards for Departmental Excellence are given in recognition of academic achievement, exemplary contribution to the learning environment, and/or noteworthy academic growth over the course of the school year.
Click the link at the left to see the recipients of all the 2012 departmental awards for Foreign Languages.
|
¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Bonne Année! Felix sit Annus Novus! 
These are of course best wishes in each of our language offerings for a happy new year. It seems that with each passing year, proficiency in a second language becomes more and more crucial to proficiency as a global citizen. The 21st Century skill set that Weston Public Schools endeavor to cultivate in our students includes, among other traits, global awareness, curiosity and imagination, and effective written and oral communication, all of which are right up our disciplinary alley. In this century, our children are far more likely to encounter in our own streets a native Spanish or Mandarin speaker who struggles in English. Our global perspective encourages our students to be confident and willing to engage this and other such experiences in Spanish, Mandarin, or whatever the applicable language may be, so that they learn more from them. Travel abroad and the valuable lesson one learns when seeing how the rest of the world communicates, studies, interacts with the environment, sacrifices, lives, and plans for the future is part of this global citizenship that we stress. Our hope is that the new year opens opportunities for all our students to become more proficient global citizens.
-Cort Mathers, Chair, Foreign Language Department
 The Foreign Language program in Weston is predicated on our strong belief that languages should be useful in the world outside of school and that said usefulness should last a lifetime. Additionally, since languages are communicative tools, the study of languages should also focus attention on developing thinking skills and on helping students clarify their thoughts so that they can be shared with others accurately. Finally, students need to feel engaged, challenged and rewarded in their learning if that learning is to continue into adulthood. To that end, we work to ensure that the learning of languages in Weston is an intellectually simulating, enjoyable, and relevant experience for all our students.
Oral language courses in Weston follow the proficiency model of language instruction reflected in the Massachusetts State Curriculum Frameworks and the National Standards for Education. That is, students are presented with both grammar and vocabulary in context and are encouraged to express themselves in the target language independent of a text as soon as possible. Awareness of cultural differences and similarities is also essential to a complete language education. Interdisciplinary themes allow students to use the language they acquire to learn about their world in general. They also demonstrate a more authentic use for the language as a means of communicating important information.
Teachers use multi-sensory methods such as computers, video, music, drama, food and games to make the material both meaningful and interesting for the students. Each level of instruction focuses attention on listening, speaking, reading and writing.
While Latin does not require the same instructional shift from a more traditional methodology to the proficiency model as do Spanish and French, curricular objectives for Latin have been modified to make study of the language more relevant to students. Projects, games and historical lessons complement working with grammar and vocabulary, which is presented in context and in an age-appropriate manner. In addition, students learn to recognize parts of speech and vocabulary derivatives which enhance their understanding of their native language. Study skills are an essential part of the curriculum as well. Advanced levels continue to address the classics written in Latin.
Students who have attained a reasonable level of mastery in a second language are encouraged to include a third language in their choice of courses in addition to maintaining their second language.
A minimum three-year high school foreign language course sequence is recommended for students seeking admission to competitive colleges. Many juniors and seniors use foreign language as one of the three College Board SAT-II subject tests frequently requested for college admissions. Our curriculum does not focus directly on standardized tests other than the Advanced Placement Exams. However, students who have completed the Spanish Intermediate Honors, French Intermediate Honors or Latin IV have been introduced to the full continuum of grammatical concepts and ample vocabulary. In most cases, this prepares students with the skills necessary for success on either the SAT II or the ACT tests. Colleges express no preference among languages.
For foreign exchange and travel opportunities, visit the Global Connections page.
Click here to be directed to the District Curriculum and Instruction page.
Dr. Cortland A. Mathers, Director
|
