Montgomery Township School District

 

 The World Language Department's misssion is to help every student grow into confident, compassionate, and successful learners. Our curriculum is based on the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards so that we may prepare our students for a global society through engaging and challenging educational experiences in a student-centered environment.

 

It is necessary that students acquire knowledge of languages other than English so that they will be successful in college, various careers, and in the enjoyment of life. Learning another language affords students with the ability to unlock the secrets of unknown cultures that would have remained a mystery otherwise. The World Language Department utilizes best practices and research to guide its methodologies. The New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards recommend utilizing instructional techniques that assist us in differentiating our instruction. By diversifying our means of engaging students and also providing a nurturing classroom experience, we are ensuring every child is known, valued, and respected. Our staff works collaboratively and creates a synergy of creative ideas to maximize the instrucional effectiveness of our programs. We create a learning community and try to impart a love of learning and cooperative spirit amoung the student body. We must always strive to make learning fun, engaging, and relevant. To this end, the community must feel welcome in the schools and share its knowledge of the realworld applications for acquiring a language other than English. The global society of today, and tomorrow, demands this.

 What should a World Language class in Montgomery look like?

According to the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards (NJCCCS), whether it is a first grade class or an Advanced Placement course, the teacher should be speaking 95% of the time in the target language. The teaching methodologies should engage students through hands-on activities; acting out realworld scenarios; making the learning relevant to the students' current lives; utilizing formative assessment; and all assessment should be employing a mix of interpersonal, presentational, and interpretive modes of communication (Integrated Performance Assessments).