Language education is one of the many things we do differently at Watershed. This is because we know that historically, traditional high school language programs in the United States do not produce students who are fluent or even proficient in a second language.
Most Americans, when asked whether or not they speak a foreign language, will probably tell you something like “well, I took Spanish in high school, but I can’t speak it”.
Students commonly view language classes as a waste of time, and either do not believe acquisition of a second language is important, or they are convinced that learning can occur only by visiting a country where the language is spoken.
That’s why the Watershed approach is different.
- Class sizes are small, giving each student the opportunity to speak and interact in the target language.
- Students are encouraged to design a personalized language curriculum, allowing them to focus their study around key countries, topics, and vocabulary that is especially relevant to their language goals.
- Excellent, college-level textbooks are supplemented by up-to-date videos, podcasts, audio books, newspapers, magazines, literature, and current events articles on relevant topics.
- Faculty members are available to help students design individualized study abroad and/or language immersion programs.
- Language classes take full advantage of online opportunities to interact with native speakers and practice using the target language for research and other practical purposes.
- With four years of language education at Watershed, students are comfortable reading and analyzing articles written by native speakers for native speakers in either French or Spanish and are capable of researching and writing about any topic using all foreign language sources.
- Students will also be prepared to take both the SAT subject tests and Advanced Placement Exams in their target language if they so choose.
The Watershed way…
- Students in foreign language programs have tended to demonstrate greater cognitive development, creativity, and divergent thinking than monolingual children. Several studies show that people who are competent in more than one language outscore those who are speakers of only one language on tests of verbal and nonverbal intelligence.
- Learning languages provides connections to bodies of knowledge and research sources that are otherwise not available.
- Many colleges require students to take two years of a foreign language and taking more than two years shows admissions officers that a student is willing to go beyond the basics.
- Competency in a foreign language strengthens cultural understanding and opens up significant employment opportunities.