World Languages

Grade 8 AAPPL Examinations

From March 13-24, 2023, French 8 and Spanish 8 students will conduct practice exams and take the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) during their regularly scheduled world languages classes. Since this is a web-based exam, all students will need to come to school each day with the following:

• a fully charged Chromebook and the charger
•  headphones or ear buds with a built-in microphone (3.5 mm plug-in headset jack or USB)

For more detailed information about the Grade 8 AAPPL administration, including links to prepare and learn about the examination, please read the 2023 Grade 8 AAPPL Examination Letter sent to families from their world languages teachers through PlusPortals.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Heidi Olson, PreK-12 World Languages Coordinator at olsonh@cantonma.org. 

GMS German-UMASS/Boston-Canton Partnership

We are pleased to partner with UMASS/Boston, the Goethe-Institut, and the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) to bring SPARK for German to the Canton Public Schools.  2002-2023 marks the second year that Canton students in grades K-8 have the opportunity to learn German virtually via Zoom for 8-week programming starting on September 28, 2022.  Our fall program runs until November 16, 2022.  Information and registration forms are below.  Winter/spring programming will begin in February 2023.  More information about our winter/spring program will be available in January 2023.

2022 SPARK for German Program Letter

GMS French-Bonjour! GMS Spanish-¡Hola! 

NEW for 2022-2023!  World Language study now begins in grade 6 at the Galvin Middle School!  Grade 6 students study French and Spanish for half the year.  Students receive two periods of instruction in the seven-day cycle.  The program is designed to introduce students to world languages and provide them with foundational knowledge of both French and Spanish.

In the spring of grade 6, students choose an in-depth study of either French or Spanish for 7th and 8th grade.  The two-year sequence prepares students for French 2 or Spanish 2 at Canton High School.  Our language classes are conducted in the target language at least 90% of class time.  Teachers use a combination of visuals, auditory cues, and kinesthetic activities to make language learning comprehensible and fun for the students.

In accordance with the Massachusetts State Curriculum Frameworks our classes are focused on Communication, Cultures, Comparisons, Connections, and Communities.  Emphasis is placed on the three modes of Communication:  interpretive (listening and reading), interpersonal (speaking and writing, and presentational (speaking and writing) as well as on intercultural communication (investigate and interact).  Students maintain language portfolios and develop goals to chart their progress of what they CAN-DO in the language.  As they design personalized goals and chart their progress in the course, students become invested in their learning.  Most importantly, they become responsible, independent learners who can communicate effectively as global citizens.

Each March our department celebrates the diversity of languages and cultures in our community in our annual World Language Week.  The theme of the week is Galvin Goes Global.  Our food services department offers an international school lunch menu and students have the opportunity to participate in the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association (MaFLA) state-wide poster, video, and essay contests.  The week-long celebration also features guest speakers, interactive workshops, trivia contests, games, cooking, and international music.  It is a week that our entire department and our students look forward to and enjoy!  If you are interested in serving as a guest speaker, please feel free to contact your child's teacher.

If you have any questions during the year about our programming, your child's progress, and/or the course selection/recommendation process, please feel free to reach out to your child's teacher.

Content

• ACTFL Can-Do Statements (Booklet)
• ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines
• World Readiness Standards (Pamphlet)

Links

• Realidades Textbook (Pearson Realize)
• EntreCultures Textbook (Wayside Publishing)
• 2021 Massachusetts Curriculum Framework-World Languages (Pre-Kindergarten to 12)
• World Language Articles
• World Language Cultural Materials
• Study Resources for Students
• Professional Resources for World Language Educators

World Language Staff

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