World Languages
Students are offered the opportunity to explore French and German in fifth grade while continuing to study Spanish, and to learn about the culture and customs associated with each language.
In 5th grade, students are taught primarily through the concentrated use of oral/aural skill development. More emphasis is placed on reading and writing skills in the 6th grade. At the end of the 5th grade year, students select one world language they would like to continue to study for the next three years of the middle school career.
More details about World Language
The Upper St Clair School District is committed to providing high quality second language instruction in grades 1-12, thus providing students with the opportunity to develop functional proficiency in a second language. Through years of continuous language study, many USC graduates are able to develop coveted second language skills that are sought after by universities and employers alike. The programming at Boyce Middle School marks the beginning of this path, allowing students and their families to select the language of their choice. Given that acquired language proficiency happens at a different rate for each individual and requires thousands of hours of comprehensible, comprehended input, we are committed to helping students embrace a growth mindset while differentiating language complexity for a variety of learners.
Curriculum In 5th grade, the beginner language experience begun in elementary schools continues with a full FLEX (Foreign Language Exploratory) program in which all students rotate through three language courses (French, German and Spanish) with instructors fully certified in the language they teach. Students learn about the culture and customs associated with each language, and are also expected to develop listening and speaking skills at a novice level. At the conclusion of their fifth grade year, students will have had 12 weeks of communicative instruction in each language (50 minute classes meeting every other day) and are asked to choose a single language for continued study through middle school. A three-year commitment is required (five years for IB students), so families are encouraged to thoughtfully consider the best fit for their child. This strong foundation and attention to allowing students to make informed decisions in their own education is done so that students are motivated to excel through high school in their chosen language.
Sixth grade marks the beginning of focused language study in full year classes: 50 minute classes every other day. Effective instruction for lasting acquisition uses rich language that students can understand from the first day for meaningful, engaging communication. This approach, often referred to as Comprehensible Input (CI), is the foundation for world language instruction throughout the middle school years in USC. The priority is the development of spontaneous use of the language rather than rote memorization and explicit grammar instruction, and a unique and customized curriculum has been developed for USC students. A similar, high quality experience for every child regardless of language choice is offered and includes listening and reading opportunities which use engaging input that students are able to understand in the target language. Additionally, students will be encouraged to develop the skills necessary to learn how to maximize understanding in communicative settings when listening and reading.
The WL staff at Boyce has long worked together to provide high-quality opportunities throughout the school year for students to experience the cultures of the languages they are learning, to recognize the wide variety of languages spoken at home by Boyce students and to develop a respect and understanding for the increasingly interconnected world we live in. Over several class periods throughout the school year, WL teachers run events and activities for each team during their regularly scheduled World Language classes. While these events change from year to year, the end goal remains the same: to develop global awareness and cultural understanding. Given our department-wide commitment to providing Comprehensible Input, many of these traditions are taught in the target language using visual language cues and story-telling techniques to establish meaning.