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April 3, 2013
Dear Sixth Grade Families,

It's time for your first step toward seventh grade: the choice of a language to study for the next two years. We are delighted to be able to offer our students beginning instruction in Chinese, French, and Latin or continuing instruction in Spanish.

Our Middle School philosophy of education embraces the ideal of exposing our students to a wide range of experiences as they develop a wide range of interests. While students rising from Sidwell's sixth grade have studied Spanish already, this may be the time to "try on" a different language before committing to a deeper level of study in high school. Families often make decisions about language study based on interests, experiences, or goals.

The Middle School modern and classical language program emphasizes a cultural and historical appreciation of people who speak (or spoke) those languages. All of the languages offered are valuable for their own reasons. French is the only language other than English spoken on five continents. The study of Latin enhances a student's understanding of English, Spanish, and French; its grammar and vocabulary provide a strong foundation for these and other languages, including English. Clearly, Spanish is a language of increasing importance in our hemisphere. Mandarin Chinese is the language of millions in an emerging world power.

We would like to get an early start on our language sign-ups so that we may more accurately assess our staffing needs. Please use the attached page to specify first and second choices for your child's language study. It is possible that we may have to cap enrollment in some of our classes, so please do think carefully about the options and then return the form by Monday, April 15th. Because staffing will be based on these numbers, changes will be difficult to make once choices are received.

Please note that your child's language choice is a two year commitment; thus he or she will study the same language throughout 7th and 8th grade. (A course of study of a language in seventh and eighth grades is the equivalent of one year of high school study.) All four languages are offered in our Upper School, and some students choose to switch languages as they enter the 9th grade.

If you would like to speak to any of us to assist you in making this decision, please feel free to contact Jean Weitz, Middle School Language Department Chair, Auysha Muhayya, Interdivisional Language Department Head, Anne Kennedy, Middle School Learning Specialist, Jen Mitchell, or me.

Sally Selby