World Language

Our mission is to create a community of global learners equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge of other languages and cultures that will enable them to communicate effectively in a 21st-century multilingual environment.

Elementary School

Introduction to World Language: Offered by Gifted Services, this introduction to world language offers students the opportunity to become familiar with French, German, and Spanish.

Classes are offered one day a week at the following schools:

Hilton Elementary offers weekly instruction in Spanish in 4th and 5th grades.

Dutrow Elementary is a Global Studies Magnet school. Students receive some instruction in basic French and Spanish and are introduced to other cultures and languages around the world. Class meets once per week for all grades K-5.

To learn more about Dutrow's Global Studies Magnet program, please download the informational brochure.

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Middle School

The middle school world language program is designed to offer introductory or one-and two-year high school credit courses for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students interested in world language. Successful completion of Level I or both Level IA and Level IB classes will result in one high school credit.

The following courses are available in middle school (offerings may vary by site):

• French: Levels I, IA, IB
• German: Levels I, IA, IB
• Spanish: Levels I, IA, IB
• Introduction to World Language: This course is designed to provide an introduction to French, German, and Spanish to sixth and seventh grade students interested in World Language study.

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High School

The high school world language program is designed to provide students an in-depth language study in comprehension, listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in the target language. Additionally, world language courses at the high school level fulfill advanced diploma requirements, and help provide a global perspective to students and their curriculum.

The following high school courses are offered: (Offerings may vary by site)

• French: Levels I, II, III, IV(Honors), AP (Advanced Placement)
• German: Levels I, II, III, IV(Honors), AP (Advanced Placement)
• Spanish: Levels I, II, III, IV(Honors), AP (Advanced Placement)
• Latin: Levels I, II, III, AP (Advanced Placement) currently offered at Menchville High School.

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Advanced Placement

The Advanced Placement Program® (AP) is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools and colleges and universities. Students who participate in the program not only gain college-level skills, but in many cases also earn college credit while they are still in high school. AP courses are taught by dedicated and enthusiastic high school teachers who follow course guidelines developed and published by the College Board.

AP Program Facts

• The AP Program offers 35 courses in 20 subject areas, including: French, German, Latin: Vergil, Spanish Language, and Spanish Literature.
• Nearly 60 percent of U.S. high schools participate in the AP Program.
• In 2005, 2.1 million AP Exams were administered worldwide.
• Newport News Public School AP students participate in the AP exam at no cost.
• Over 90 percent of the nation’s colleges and universities have an AP policy granting incoming students credit, placement, or both, for qualifying AP Exam grades.

The Courses: Facts

• The Course Description of each AP course is revisited on a regular basis through curriculum surveys. These surveys of college courses verify that each AP course covers the breadth of information, skills, types of activities, and assignments found in the corresponding college courses.
• Local high school AP courses must be approved by the College Board by submitting an AP Course Audit form and course syllabus.
• Students whose AP grades exempt them from introductory college courses typically do better in subsequent higher-level courses than those students who take the introductory college course.
• More AP Information