Salisbury Eighth-Graders To Get Daily Foreign Language Classes

eighth-grade student will be able to take Spanish I and German I classes everyday for a full credit next year under a restructured World Languages program.

Currently, seventh- and eighth-grade students take Spanish or German, the only languages offered in the World Languages program, every other day spread out over two years.

Assistant Superintendent Louise Beauchemin said students found it difficult to retain the information because it was being taught infrequently and teachers had to spend much of the time reviewing.

Under the new plan discussed Monday at the Salisbury School Board's curriculum and technology committee meeting, seventh-graders will no longer participate in the World Languages program, but will get additional Language Arts classes, with more emphasis on writing, said Principal Robert Cassidy.

Beauchemin said they made their decisions based on data and "through a fiscally responsible lens. But we were not taking away anything from students in terms of what they would need leaving middle school."

The eighth-graders will be able to proceed to Spanish II or German II in ninth grade, or study one at the first level. Students will be able to study four levels of Spanish or German by the time they graduate.

The restructured language program could eventually provide more offerings in that language at the high school, such as AP, level 5 or a literature class based in that language, Beauchemin said.

With the upcoming retirement of three foreign language teachers in the district--- two at the middle school and one at the high school--- some parents have been concerned about the continued availability of foreign language instruction at the middle school. And, since the German teacher at the middle school also taught gifted seminars, some parents were concerned that program was in jeopardy, too.

Beauchemin said the district would be hiring outside to replace the language teachers but hire a gifted teacher from within their ranks.