Explore our Curriculum

School Level

Department

World Languages

Norwood’s world languages program is a core part of the curriculum. Norwood offers Spanish in grades K-8, French and Chinese in grades 5-8, and Latin in grades 7 and 8. In both classical and modern language classrooms, instruction focuses on grammar and effective understanding of culture. Through thematic instruction in the modern languages classroom, students learn real-life communication in the target language, developing aural, oral, reading and writing skills. In the classical language classroom the Latin students learn language structure, grammar, and an understanding of Roman civilization. In keeping with the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages’ Statement of Philosophy, teachers include the 5 C’s (Communication, Cultures, Comparisons, Connections and Communities.) The world languages curriculum promotes critical thinking, cultural literacy, and global citizenship.

5th Chinese

Studying the fundamentals of Mandarin Chinese, students develop the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Through the use of communicative activities, students learn to introduce themselves, describe families, school life, and converse using typical greetings and daily expressions. Students study the structure of Chinese characters, Chinese phonetic (Pinyin) writing, speaking tones, and characters’ strokes. Students also study culture through exposure to Chines art, songs, and games.
5th French

The French program introduces students to practical vocabulary and grammatical structures that enable students to communicate in French. They learn the basic vocabulary of everyday life situations, how to greet people, colors, numbers, family, body parts, animals, house, city, sports and food. New vocabulary is introduced through different kinds of activities; games, role play, interactive PowerPoints, contests, technological and hands on activities. The course focuses on speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
5th Spanish

In fifth and sixth grades, Spanish students delve deeper into the topics presented in Lower School. Maintaining the emphasis on communicative activities, students expand vocabulary and mastery of grammar structures allowing them to communicate at a more sophisticated level. Students talk and write about family units, housing, schools, telling time, meals, and restaurants. Students relate their own customs to those of Spanish-speaking countries throughout the world.
6th Chinese

Studying the fundamentals of Mandarin Chinese, students develop the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Through the use of communicative activities, students learn to introduce themselves, describe families, school life, and converse using typical greetings and daily expressions. Students study the structure of Chinese characters, Chinese phonetic (Pinyin) writing, speaking tones, and characters’ strokes. Students also study culture through exposure to Chines art, songs, and games.
6th French

The French program introduces students to practical vocabulary and grammatical structures that enable students to communicate in French. They learn the basic vocabulary of everyday life situations, how to greet people, colors, numbers, family, body parts, animals, house, city, sports and food. New vocabulary is introduced through different kinds of activities; games, role play, interactive PowerPoints, contests, technological and hands on activities. The course focuses on speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
6th Spanish

In fifth and sixth grades, Spanish students delve deeper into the topics presented in Lower School. Maintaining the emphasis on communicative activities, students expand vocabulary and mastery of grammar structures allowing them to communicate at a more sophisticated level. Students talk and write about family units, housing, schools, telling time, meals, and restaurants. Students relate their own customs to those of Spanish-speaking countries throughout the world.
7th Chinese

Seventh and eighth grade levels provide opportunities to develop communication skills in the language, at an emerging level, while deepening the understanding of the people and culture of China. The target language is used almost exclusively in the classroom to work toward proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Topics include: foods, clothes, body parts, sports, animals, transportation, shopping, languages, weather, and making comparisons. Class activities include short essay writing, research projects, implementation of language-related web activities, use of Kuaiban (“bamboo talk), discussion of current events, use of a variety of authentic Chinese materials, and visits to Chinese cultural centers.
7th French

The seventh and eighth grade French curricula focus on theme-based units that cover more complex grammar concepts as well as new conjugation tenses (perfect tense, future, and conditional.) Students read at an intermediate level getting a taste of genuine French literature such as La Tulipe Noire by Alexandre Dumas, 20,000 Lieues sous les Mers by Jules Verne. In seventh grade, students research important places in France through Le Tour de France Culturel.
7th Latin

In seventh and eighth grade, students learn Latin through the study of language structure, vocabulary acquisition, and translation. They are encouraged to make comparisons to the grammar structure of English which gives them great insight into their own language. Through vocabulary, students learn that many English words are derived from Latin words, and they learn to decode more complex English words by looking for the Latin roots. Students study Roman culture to put the Latin language into the context in which it was originally used. The culture studied is incorporated into the translations and story lines to make the passages more authentic. Language and culture are integrated from the outset by using as much authentic Roman subject matter as possible.
7th Spanish

The seventh and eighth grade Spanish program includes the study of history and events from Spanish speaking cultures and has the goal of expanding the students’ abilities to express themselves accurately in oral and written Spanish. Students are exposed to authentic sources of Spanish via online recordings, songs, videos, full length films, and news sources. They read a wide variety of materials written for native speakers and for language learners. The students conduct research, write compositions, sing traditional and pop songs, act in skits, and do oral presentations in the target language. Both seventh and eighth grade Spanish students take the National Spanish Exam.
8th Chinese

Seventh and eighth grade levels provide opportunities to develop communication skills in the language, at an emerging level, while deepening the understanding of the people and culture of China. The target language is used almost exclusively in the classroom to work toward proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Topics include: foods, clothes, body parts, sports, animals, transportation, shopping, languages, weather, and making comparisons. Class activities include short essay writing, research projects, implementation of language-related web activities, use of Kuaiban (“bamboo talk), discussion of current events, use of a variety of authentic Chinese materials, and visits to Chinese cultural centers.
8th French

The seventh and eighth grade French curricula focus on theme-based units that cover more complex grammar concepts as well as new conjugation tenses (perfect tense, future, and conditional.) Students read at an intermediate level getting a taste of genuine French literature such as La Tulipe Noire by Alexandre Dumas, 20,000 Lieues sous les Mers by Jules Verne. In seventh grade, students research important places in France through Le Tour de France Culturel.
8th Latin

In seventh and eighth grade, students learn Latin through the study of language structure, vocabulary acquisition, and translation. They are encouraged to make comparisons to the grammar structure of English which gives them great insight into their own language. Through vocabulary, students learn that many English words are derived from Latin words, and they learn to decode more complex English words by looking for the Latin roots. Students study Roman culture to put the Latin language into the context in which it was originally used. The culture studied is incorporated into the translations and story lines to make the passages more authentic. Language and culture are integrated from the outset by using as much authentic Roman subject matter as possible.
8th Spanish

The seventh and eighth grade Spanish program includes the study of history and events from Spanish speaking cultures and has the goal of expanding the students’ abilities to express themselves accurately in oral and written Spanish. Students are exposed to authentic sources of Spanish via online recordings, songs, videos, full length films, and news sources. They read a wide variety of materials written for native speakers and for language learners. The students conduct research, write compositions, sing traditional and pop songs, act in skits, and do oral presentations in the target language. Both seventh and eighth grade Spanish students take the National Spanish Exam.

Our Faculty

Maria Del Carmen Alvarez

Middle School Spanish Teacher and Advisor

Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca - B.A.
Moreland University - M.Ed.
Nancy Harvey

Middle School French Teacher

Universite Laval, Canada - B.A. and M.Sc.
Universite de Bourgogne, France - B.Ed.
Lan Jin

Middle School Mandarin Teacher

Notre Dame of Maryland University - M.A.T.
Nanjing Normal University - B.A.
Jiangsu Xiaozhuang Normal Institute - Teaching Degree
Claudia Langbehn

Middle School Spanish Teacher

University of Maryland - B.A.
Paul Perrot

Middle School Latin and French Teacher

Georgetown University - B.A.
Rosine Riachi

Middle School French Teacher

Holy Spirit University of Kaslik - B.A., M.Ed. & M.A.S.

Located in Bethesda, MD, Norwood School develops students in grades PK-8 into confident lifelong learners who have the academic, character, and leadership skills to succeed in high school and beyond. Recognizing that children are multi-faceted, Norwood provides many opportunities for safe risk-taking, exploration, discovery, and growth in a nurturing, supportive, and inclusive school community.