Languages
Knowing a language other than English is an important skill for a 21st century citizen of any country. Beyond being a tool of communication, a language is a window onto the history, culture and literature of other places and peoples. Indeed, the study of language in adolescence can, by exposing a student to different cultural practices and points of view, help shape his or her personality. Studying another language broadens a young person’s possibilities for selfdefinition and reduces the “foreignness” of others. It also builds cognitive skills that will buoy a person throughout his or her life.
The Language Department aims to bring its students to a level of proficiency that will permit them to communicate effectively in a second language and to discover and appreciate another culture, either modern or ancient. Increased self-confidence, the enjoyment of another culture, and a greater potential for empathy, appreciation, and acceptance of all backgrounds are among the benefits we believe our students gain.
In the study of modern languages, full immersion in the target language is emphasized from the beginning; reading, writing, listening and speaking are all important components of our curriculum, as is culture. Students of Latin learn first by the inductive method, moving on to authentic texts by the middle of the second year and to full-length works in the third and fourth years. Fourth and fifth year courses in all languages are opportunities to use the language to learn about literature, history, civilization, and contemporary culture, though in some cases linguistic proficiency is still the main goal. Although some of the languages taught at Choate may be reputed to be more challenging to learn, we tailor our curriculum so that a more difficult language does not make for a more difficult language course. By the same token, an easier language does not necessarily make for an easier language course.
Our courses aim to teach students:
- a sense of linguistic and cultural curiosity;
- the value of taking academic risks and making mistakes;
- patience, persistence and humility in pursuing a difficult endeavor that takes time;
- to recognize and assimilate patterns in language;
- to discover that accuracy and detail are essential to good communication;
- to know the value of consistent, methodical and self-directed preparation;
- to know and exercise the power of rhetoric in speaking and writing;
- to understand that language is infused with cultural information;
- to appreciate the English language as seen through the lens of another language;
- to recognize the untranslatable in each language; and
- empathy and understanding of difference.
To earn a Choate diploma, students must complete a course of study through the third year (i.e., 300 or 350 levels) in one of the following languages:
- Chinese
- French
- Latin
- Spanish
- or complete Choate’s Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies Program
The requirement in contemporary global studies can be fulfilled with a range of courses including French in a Global Context (FR404AD, FR405AD, or FR406AD) as well as Spain: Connections for the World (SPS47AD), offered as part of the study abroad experience.
A number of Study Abroad Program opportunities are available during the academic year:
- an academic term in China;
- an academic term in France;
- an academic term at St. Stephen’s School in Rome, open to students with a particular interest in classical studies; and
- an academic term in Spain.
Summer opportunities include study and travel programs in China, France, Japan and Spain. Please see Summer Study Abroad for more details.
Note 1: New students are placed in the appropriate language course by the department based on an assessment of some or all of the following: the student's placement test, test scores, previous grades, stated language experience and teacher questionnaire.
Note 2: All students must meet department standards to qualify for and retain honors placement. Students in regular or advanced sections must have a course grade of A- or above and/or the recommendation of the department to qualify for an honors course; students in honors courses must have a minimum B+ course grade and/or the recommendation of the department to retain placement in an honors course.