Languages
Waddell Language Academy offers students the unique opportunity to become fluent and literate in a second language through second language immersion instruction in Chinese, German, French, and Japanese. From the first days in Kindergarten, students are immersed in the new language. This produces students who are proficient in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a second language. These intensive language programs are taught in the second language for all or part of the instructional day. Tracks using Chinese, French, German, or Japanese as the medium of instruction cover kindergarten through eighth grade, while the Spanish immersion track covers grades six through eight. Chinese, which the school began to offer in 2006-07, was the most recently added language. The program, in Mandarin, was taught in kindergarten and first grade and will grow a grade level each year.
Students recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States in both English and their language of instruction. Immersion classes feature cultural lessons in addition to language and subject teaching.
The school has effective relationships with universities in Germany and with the Visiting International Faculty program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This provides the faculty with development opportunities and resources. Overseas teachers also spend time at the school on secondment.
Read more about this topic: Smith Academy Of International Languages
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—William Lamb Melbourne, 2nd Viscount (1779–1848)