In teaching languages, the World Languages faculty aims to develop those qualities that lie at the heart of all good education: an inquiring mind, a broad-minded attitude toward other cultures, and an interest in the world. To ensure a solid language education, the World Languages Department adheres closely to the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) standards and ensures the development of 21st century skills.
The World Languages Department offers a variety of courses in French, Latin, and Spanish. Although nine blocks of language are required, the Department strongly encourages students to take a language all four years and supports students who want to take more than one world language. Moreover, the Department nominates students each year to the Virginia Department of Education-sponsored Governor’s Foreign Language Academies and offers several language immersion and exchange programs on campus and abroad. You may find details under the Global Travel and Exchange Programs page. Summer courses and programs may be used for enrichment only. New student placement includes completion of a placement test and is done by the Academic Dean and the Chair of the Language Department.
1-block course; Open to grades 9 and 10; by department permission
This course is designed for students who have not studied French previously. The course introduces them to the language in a welcoming environment and at a pace appropriate to a first exposure of the language. Students are introduced to greetings and salutations, classroom expressions, nouns and articles, simple adjectives, numbers, colors, time and days of the week. The course begins to familiarize the student with conjugations of regular verbs and formation of simple sentences. Prerequisite: No previous experience.
3-block course; Open to grades 9-12
This course is for students with limited knowledge of French. It reinforces the acquisition of basic grammatical structures and vocabulary in culturally authentic contexts through speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension. The students are introduced to cultural aspects of France and the Francophone world. Additionally, at the end of this course, students will be able to describe people and things, talk about past times, weekend activities and sports, to express possession, to narrate in the present and to make plans. Prerequisite: Some French exposure, students who have finished Bridge to French I with a B or better, or by placement test.
1-block course; Open to grades 9-12
This course is designed for the new student who has taken French at her previous school and who needs to review the material from level I prior to enrolling in the rigorous Madeira French II course or for the returning Madeira student who will benefit from a review. Students will review grammar using four main communicative functions: describing, talking about likes and dislikes, comparing, talking about the past and the future. Cultural understanding will also be reinforced throughout the class. Prerequisite: Returning students - French I with a B-, C+, or C. New Students - by placement test.
3-block course; Open to grades 9-12
Students continue to build vocabulary and grammar skills started in level I. Most verb tenses and moods are covered such as: passé composé, imperfect, present conditional, future simple, subjunctive. The course is taught in French through a series of thematic units such as getting by at the doctor’s office and hospital, running errands, using technology, and protecting the environment. Students are expected to participate fully in class discussions and projects. By the end of the course, the student should be able to talk about the environment, to express their beliefs and opinions about the use of technology, to describe medical conditions, to narrate past experiences and to consider future plans. A proficiency-based approach, reinforced by group projects, will be used in this class. Prerequisite: Returning students - French I with a B or better, or Bridge to French II with a B or better. New students - by placement test.
3-block course; Open to grades 9, 10, 11, and 12
This course further develops students' communication and literacy skills. Students enhance their language proficiency while improving their cultural competency using a variety of authentic texts (articles, interviews, literary texts and video). Students develop their communicative skills in the target language through conversations about daily life and current events and discussions and debates in which they offer opinions and exchange ideas. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students learn about the life, people and history of Francophone countries, build cultural awareness and understanding. This course creates a path for students to continue to French IV or AP French. Prerequisite: Returning students - French II with a C+ or better. New students - by placement test.
3-block course; Open to grades 11 and 12
This course consists of two parts. The first part (2 modules) introduces students to the history of western theatre, and classic French plays. Selected classic and contemporary texts will be used in the class to help students gain a basic understanding of the historical evolution of French and Francophone theatre. Students will create a glossary of both technical and literary terms to utilize when analyzing the works of great playwrights. The second part of the course (1 module) focuses on the conversations between French cinema and American cinema. Students will gain knowledge of the origin of the cinematographic art, the impact of Hollywoodian films noirs on France’s film productions, and the French New Wave Movement. Prerequisites: Returning students – French III with a B or better. New students - by placement test.
3-block course; Open to grades 11 and 12
The AP French Language and Culture course takes an interdisciplinary approach to language proficiency. The course engages students in an exploration of culture, socio-economy, and politics, in both contemporary and historical contexts. When communicating, students in the AP French Language and Culture course demonstrate an understanding of the cultures, make comparisons between the native language and the target language and between cultures, and use the target language in real-life settings. Prerequisites: Returning students - French III with an A- average or better and department approval. New students - by placement test and departmental approval.
Modules:
Identity and Contemporary Life - Students study the social customs, values, lifestyle, and education of French-speaking countries. They explore their connection with personal and public identities inherited or developed in these countries.
Science, Technology, and the Arts - Students focus on technology and scientific innovations as well as in the arts to explore themes related to STEAM.
Global Challenges - Students focus on social, economic, environmental, and political issues in Francophone countries in order to discuss human rights principles and reflect upon our responsibility as global citizens.
3-block course; Open to grades 9-12
Latin I introduces students to the fundamentals of Latin grammar and vocabulary through the reading-based approach of the Cambridge Latin Course. Students learn to translate Latin through stories that follow a Roman family from Pompeii to Roman Britain and Alexandria while illustrating important aspects of Roman history, culture and daily life. Students explore the language and culture of the Roman Empire through projects and examine the relationship between Latin and English including English words derived from Latin and Latin phrases and abbreviations that we use to this day. Prerequisite: None
3-block course; Open to grades 9-12
Latin II builds on the vocabulary and grammar of Latin I and introduces more complicated grammatical constructions such as participles, subjunctives, indirect statement, and the passive voice. Students improve their proficiency in the language as they work toward reading authentic texts. Readings and projects expand students’ knowledge of Roman culture and history with a focus on the Roman military, Roman philosophy and the ins and outs of life in Rome. Prerequisite: Returning students - Latin I with a C or better. New students - by placement test.
3-block course; Open to grades 10, 11, 12
Latin III provides an overview of Latin grammar as students learn to translate and interpret authentic Latin texts. Students become familiar with a variety of styles and genres as they read and analyze representative selections from the works of the most famous Latin authors and their work. Students will read excerpts from Pliny's Letters, the epigrams of Martial, the poems of Horace and Catullus, Ovid's Metamorphoses, Vergil's Aeneid, and Livy's Ab: Urbe Condita (history of Rome). Prerequisite: Returning students - Latin II with a C or better. New students - by placement test.
3-block course; Open to grades 11 and 12
This course introduces students to two of the best-known works of Latin literature, Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico and Vergil's Aeneid, and two of the most important periods in Roman history, the Late Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire. It is designed to prepare students for the AP exam with an emphasis not only on translating Latin prose and poetry but also on building arguments based on evidence taken from the Latin text. The class includes an accelerated review of grammar and an introduction to essential aspects of the interpretation of Caesar and Vergil (or any piece of history or literature), including genre, style, themes, and characterization. Students who want to earn AP credit must take the AP exam. Prerequisite: Returning students: For Latin IV - Latin III with a C+ or better; For AP Latin - Latin III with an A- average or better and department approval. New students: by placement test and departmental approval.
1-block course; Open to grades 9-12
This course stems from the reality that both the language we speak and the stories we tell continue to reflect the influence of ancient Greece and Rome. Students Students will become familiar with the most important Greek and Roman myths as well as the Greek and Latin roots that make up many of the words we use today. Topics include Greek and Roman gods, constellations, the Greek alphabet, basic story structure and genre, the history of the English language, and an introduction to important concepts in historical linguistics, such as homonyms, assimilation, and cognates. Prerequisite: None
1-block course; Open to grades 9 and 10; by department permission
This course is designed for students who have not studied Spanish previously. The course introduces them to the language in a welcoming environment and at a pace appropriate to a first exposure to the language. Students are introduced to classroom expressions, nouns and articles, simple adjectives, numbers, colors, time and days of the week. At the end of this class, students will be able to introduce themselves, talk about their school life and everyday activities, describe location of people and things, and ask questions. Prerequisite: By placement test.
3-block course; Open to grades 9-12
This course introduces students to some basic communicative functions, vocabulary and structures of the Spanish language in culturally authentic contexts through speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension exercises. Using authentic materials students will also begin to explore Spanish traditions and culture. At the end of this course, students will be able to describe people and things, talk about past times, weekend activities and sports, to express possession, to narrate in the present and to make plans. Prerequisite: Some Spanish exposure, students who have finished Bridge to Spanish I with a B or better, or by placement test.
1-block course; Open to grades 9-12
This course is designed for the new student who has taken Spanish at her previous school and needs to review the material from level 1 prior to enrolling in the rigorous Madeira Spanish II course or for the returning Madeira student who would benefit from review. Students will review grammar using four main communicative functions: describing, talking about likes and dislikes, comparing, talking about the past and the future. Cultural understanding will also be reinforced throughout the class. Prerequisite: Returning students - Spanish I with a B-, C+, or C. New students - by placement test.
3-block course; Open to grades 9-12
This course reinforces and expands the student’s knowledge of the basic communicative functions, vocabulary and structures learned in Spanish I. Students continue to develop their linguistic skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing) using authentic materials and discuss cultural aspects of Spanish-speaking countries. Some of the topics include health and medical conditions, city and work lives, the environment and the use of technology. At the end of this course, students will be able to talk about the environment, to express their beliefs and opinions about the use of technology, to describe medical conditions, to narrate past experiences and to consider future plans. A proficiency-based approach, reinforced by group projects, will be used in this class. Prerequisite: Returning students – Spanish I with a B or better, or Bridge to Spanish II with a B or better. New students - by placement test.
3-block course; Open to grades 9-12
This course further develops the communication and literacy skills introduced in the first two years of our Spanish program. Through a variety of authentic texts (articles, interviews, literary texts and video) students enhance their language proficiency while improving their cultural competency. With an emphasis on communication, students develop their ability to communicate their personal background, interests and activities; to narrate and describe events in the past, present and future; and to participate in conversations about topics of general interest, in which they offer opinions, reactions and recommendations. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students learn about the life, people and history of different Spanish-speaking countries to strengthen their awareness of other cultures and to think more critically about their own. Emphasis will also be placed on Hispanic culture in the United States. Classes are conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Returning students – Spanish II with a C+ or better. New students - by placement test.
3-block course; Open to grades 11 and 12
This course gives a fresh approach to advanced Spanish language through films and authentic material of different literary genres. It offers an integration of literature, culture and film while also focusing students in critical thinking, interpretation, speaking and writing skills. Classes are conducted in Spanish. At the end of the first two modules, students will have a better understanding of certain moments of history in Latin America, its social structure, its struggle for democracy, its culture and traditions and will be able to assess the role and influence of the United States in the development of some of the countries. Students will engage in these topics by reading short stories written by Uruguayan, Argentine, and Colombian authors, and by watching a variety of films including “Like water for Chocolate” directed by Alfonso Arau, “Pan’s Labyrinth”, directed by Guillermo del Toro, “Captive” by Gastón Biraben, “Clandestine Childhood” by Benjamín Ávila, and “The Son of the Bride” directed by José Campanella. In the last module, students will reflect on topics of colonialism, transatlantic trade routes and immigration by studying the history of culinary art in Spanish speaking countries. The class will include readings, films and cooking demonstration.
Almodovar. Prerequisite: Returning students – Spanish III with a B or better. New students - by placement test and departmental approval.
3-block course; Open to grades 11 and 12
This course follows the guidelines of the College Board AP Spanish Language and Culture course and provides opportunities for students to build their proficiency in the modes of communication from the Intermediate to the Advanced range according to ACTFL standards. The three modes of communication (Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational) defined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century are foundational to the AP Spanish Language and Culture course.
The AP Spanish Language and Culture course is conducted exclusively in Spanish. Central to the course is the overarching goal stated in the Curriculum Framework: When communicating, students in the AP Spanish Language and Culture course demonstrate an understanding of the cultures, incorporate interdisciplinary topics, make comparisons between the native language and the target language and between cultures, and use the target language in real-life settings. Prerequisites: Returning students – Spanish III with a A- average or better and department approval. New students - by placement test and departmental approval.
Modules:
Identity and Contemporary Life - Students study the social customs, values, lifestyle, and education of Spanish-speaking countries. They explore their connection with personal and public identities inherited or developed in these countries.
Global Challenges - Students focus on social, economic, environmental, and political issues in Spanish-speaking countries in order to discuss human rights principles and reflect upon our responsibility as global citizens.
Science, Technology, and the Arts – Students focus on technology and scientific innovation as well as in the arts to explore themes related to STEAM.
1-block course; Open to grades 9-12
This class is designed for students interested in medicine, the history of scientific thought, or the ancient world. Building on comparative global approaches to history, students will trace the history of medicine across cultures, place medical developments within the history of scientific thought, compare different cultures’ approaches to the body and to health, and analyze and define important medical terms based on their ancient roots. Prerequisite: None
9 credits
New students take placement tests to determine enrollment in the appropriate language course. The Chair of the Language Department and the Academic Dean make all course placements.
Dr. Xiaofu Ding joined the Madeira World Languages Department as a French teacher in 2014. She most recently worked at the Brearley School in New York City where she taught French and Mandarin to K-12 girls for six years. She graduated from New York University with a Ph.D. in French literature, studied at the prestigious l’École Normale Supérieure (Lyon) and acquired a diploma of advanced studies (DEA) at Paris 8. As an experienced educator with over 15 years of teaching foreign languages, literature, and western civilizations at numerous schools (which include New York University, the New School, the Brearley School), Dr. Ding believes the ultimate goal in education is to teach students how to think critically and creatively. She explained her teaching philosophy by way of a metaphoric analogy picture: she initially shows the young mind the right keys to the right doors, which would guide them to acquire the skills to find the right keys to the doors they wish to open. The ultimate achievement is that they will be able to make their own keys to unlock whatever doors they choose. In her leisure time, Dr. Ding loves outdoor activities, and is an arts, theater, and modern ballet lover. She is excited to join the Madeira community, and contribute to the enrichment of students’ lives.
Dr. Bednarowski joined the World Languages department in 2016. He teaches all levels of Latin. He earned a B.A. from The University of Chicago and an M.A. and Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin. He has taught at the college and high school levels, most recently at The Boys’ Latin School of Maryland in Baltimore.
Mr. Abensohn began teaching at Madeira in the fall of 2021 as a French and Spanish instructor. He earned a B.A. in French Studies from Colby College in 2007, an M.A. in French Literature from Middlebury College in 2008, and an M.A. in Arab Studies from Georgetown University in 2017. He has spent five years living in Francophone countries in Europe (France), West Africa (Cameroun), and North Africa (Morocco). He has over seven years of teaching experience, including positions teaching French and Arabic. Mr. Abensohn is delighted to be joining the Madeira community and looks forward to teaching inductive, student-centered classes, with a premium placed on communicative methods.
Originally from Charlotte, NC, Dr. Kite began teaching Spanish at Madeira in 2021. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master’s degree in Women’s Studies from Florida Atlantic University, and a master’s and doctorate in Hispanic Languages and Literatures from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Kite also holds a PhD certificate in Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Pittsburgh.
Ms. Zsitek began teaching Spanish at Boston College in 2016 where she earned a Master's degree in Hispanic Language & Literature. She continued on to teach Spanish and American Sign Language at the secondary level for an independent school in Orlando, FL prior to relocating to Virginia to begin her teaching career at Madeira.