Middle School World Language Program
Frequently Asked Questions
2018-19
Middle School World Language Program
1. Which world language course is offered at the middle schools and who can enroll?
Spanish 1, a high school level course, is an elective choice for 8th grade students at the middle schools. This course is one of the many electives available to all 8th grade students.
WLA131
WLA132Spanish 1 students will learn to speak, understand, read and write Spanish on a beginning level. Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to communicate about the alphabet, numbers, the calendar, greetings, themselves, their daily routine, family, and food. Students will be able to write complete sentences with correct verb forms in Spanish. Students will also learn about cultures and customs through readings, videos, and supplementary exercises. Students will gain the ability and confidence to communicate in Spanish at a beginning level. There are no prerequisites for this course. Students must successfully complete two years of the same world language to fulfill Washington state public four-year college/university admission requirements.
2. Is Spanish 1 available to 6th and 7th grade students? No, at this point, Spanish 1 is only offered as an elective option for 8th grade students.
Spanish I is an elective at all district middle schools.
4. Who should take this class? Eighth graders who take Spanish 1 should be interested in learning about Spanish language and culture. Students who register for middle school language classes do not have to be honors students; however, because Spanish 1 is a high school course with district-adopted instructional materials used in the high school Spanish I course, students should recognize that this is a challenging course. They must be motivated to work hard, to engage actively and participate in class, and to invest additional time as needed outside of class for homework.
5. Can students who already speak Spanish fluently take this course? Yes, students may choose to take this course who are fluent speakers of Spanish; however, they may find the beginning level of this course to be too basic for their knowledge and skills. We would strongly encourage students who are Heritage Speakers to talk with their counselors about this course, their options for taking the district World Language Proficiency Test in Spanish, and high school Spanish course options. Heritage Speakers with higher levels of proficiency in Spanish may take Spanish for Heritage Speakers in Grade 9.
6. What if students are not sure that taking a high school Spanish class is right for them? Spanish 1 is a challenging high school level course. Students should talk with their counselors, who can help them consider their choices, school work load, their activities outside of school, their personal goals and their four-year plan for high school success. Students can wait to start their language study in high school and still be able to take an Advanced Placement course in the language before they graduate. At the high school level, there are more choices of languages, too.
7. What if students are already in Band or another elective, but they really want to take Spanish, too? Students will have to choose which electives they would really like to take in their 8th grade year. Students should talk with their counselor if they have questions or need help making a decision.
8. Is the middle school Spanish I course eligible for high school credit?
Yes, because this course is equivalent to the Spanish I course at high school, students taking this course will earn one high school credit , per Board Procedure 2410 .
9. Why take Spanish 1? Students who take Spanish 1 can get a head start on earning the two credits of world language needed for admission to Washington state public four-year colleges/universities. They will also have the opportunity to take Spanish II as high school freshmen, meeting the graduation requirement of two world language credits (two of the 24 credits required for graduation) by the end of their first year in high school. This will open up their schedules to take other electives. However, even more importantly, they will also have the option of taking up to four years of world language courses in high school, including up to two Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish courses, thereby developing a high level of language proficiency and a deeper understanding of world cultures.
10. How do students get high school credits earned in middle school added to their transcripts?
When students enter high school, high school registrars distribute letters to students with a list of middle school courses eligible for high school credit. Students and their families sign off on the specific middle school courses to be added to the high school transcript. Once middle school courses are added to the high school transcript, they cannot be removed. Students and their families can request that eligible courses be added to the high school transcript any time up through high school graduation.
11. How does taking Spanish I help students earn the Seal of Biliteracy honor?
The Washington State Seal of Biliteracy is established to recognize public high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more world languages in addition to English. "Participating school districts with students eligible to receive the Seal, shall place a notation on a student's high school diploma and high school transcript indicating that the student has earned the seal." ( RCW 28A.230.125 )
Students who take four - five years of world language courses, along with heritage language speakers, will have the opportunity to demonstrate language proficiency on AP or other approved tests and earn the Washington State Seal of Biliteracy. To earn the Seal of Biliteracy, students must demonstrate proficiency in:
a. English by being on track to meet the English graduation requirement and passing the ELA state assessments; and
b. A world language other than English by meeting required proficiency levels on approved assessment options
12. Are there any other changes ahead for world languages in Everett Public Schools? What are the next steps?
Ensuring that students have the opportunity to develop world language proficiency and cultural understanding are strategic goals in Everett Public Schools. Thus, a long-range K-12 world languages plan has been developed, following guidelines suggested by The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) for implementation and expansion of high quality language programs at all levels of instruction:
a. All students should learn or maintain at least one language in addition to English
b. Learning languages should be a central part of the curriculum at all levels of instruction, from young learners through graduate school and adults (Pre-K through 20)
c. Language learning should be offered in extended, well-articulated sequences that develop increasing levels of proficiency at each level of instruction by teachers who are well qualified in language proficiency, cultural knowledge, and teaching skills
Developing higher levels of proficiency is increasingly important for students to be prepared for the work force as well as post-secondary education. Meeting these higher levels of language proficiency requires that students begin early and continue in an extended, sequence of language learning.
13. What if I still have questions?
Please contact Peter Scott , Associate Superintendent, or Georgia Lindquist , Director, Humanities and Secondary Literacy, with other questions.