World Languages
Acquiring the ability to communicate in more than one language is an essential part of the IB Middle Years Programme.
Hidden River offers a two-year program for French and Spanish. Students who successfully complete two years of language study at Hidden River are generally able to begin their high school career in the second year of high school level language study.
Note that students interested in the International Baccalaureate - Middle Years Programme (IB-MYP) certification must enroll in a world language class.
Hidden River also offers a program designed to support the growth of our bilingual students who comes from a French immersion school or from a French-speaking country.
Important information:
In Saint Paul, two years of middle school Spanish or French is equivalent to one year of high school language. When a student takes two years in middle school, they receive a high school credit, and will enter Spanish 2 or French 2 in high school. However, if a student only takes one year in middle school, they need to register for Spanish 1 or French 1 again in high school.
Language Acquisition IB-MYP Objectives
The ability to communicate in a variety of modes in more than one language is essential to the concept of an international education that promotes multilingualism and intercultural understanding, both of which are central to the IB’s mission.
Objective A: Comprehending spoken and visual text
Comprehending spoken and visual text encompasses aspects of listening and viewing, and involves the student in interpreting and constructing meaning from spoken and visual text to understand how images presented with oral text interplay to convey ideas, values and attitudes. Engaging with text requires the student to think creatively and critically about what is viewed, and to be aware of opinions, attitudes and cultural references presented in the visual text. The student might, for example, reflect on feelings and actions, imagine himself or herself in another’s situation, gain new perspectives and develop empathy, based on what he or she has understood in the text.
Objective B: Comprehending written and visual text
Comprehending written and visual text encompasses aspects of reading and viewing, and involves the student in constructing meaning and interpreting written and visual text to understand how images presented with written text interplay to convey ideas, values and attitudes. Engaging with text requires the student to think creatively and critically about what is read and viewed, and to be aware of opinions, attitudes and cultural references presented in the written and/or visual text. The student might, for example, reflect on feelings and actions, imagine himself or herself in another’s situation, gain new perspectives and develop empathy, based on what he or she has understood in the text.
Objective C: Communicating in response to spoken and/or written and/or visual text
In the language acquisition classroom, students will have opportunities to develop their communication skills by interacting on a range of topics of personal, local and global interest and significance, and responding to spoken, written and visual text in the target language.
Objective D: Using language in spoken and/or written form
This objective relates to the correct and appropriate use of the spoken and written target language. It involves recognizing and using language suitable to the audience and purpose, for example, the language used at home, the language of the classroom, formal and informal exchanges, social and academic language. When speaking and writing in the target language, students apply their understanding of linguistic and literary concepts to develop a variety of structures, strategies (spelling, grammar, plot, character, punctuation, voice) and techniques with increasing skill and effectiveness.
