World Languages

We are proud of the global nature of our community and our commitment to nurturing global citizens.

 

Our comprehensive world languages program begins in the earliest grades and continues through ninth grade, where students have access to high school-level courses.

 

In Primary School, students study both French and Spanish, each for half the year. For our youngest students, the program emphasizes immersion and cultural understanding, and students learn descriptive vocabulary, conversational phrases, songs, and games.

 

In Lower School, students select a single foreign language—French or Spanish—to study from third through sixth grade. These years offer the opportunity for the ongoing exploration of vocabulary and, beginning in fifth grade, the introduction to basic grammatical concepts. Students continue the exploration of Hispanic and Francophone countries.

 

In Upper School, students select one world language—French, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, or Latin that they may choose to study for the duration of their time at Fay. Some students who are passionate about foreign language study may also petition to take a second language in ninth grade. Click here to see a list of all Upper School world language courses.

Because we welcome students from over 25 countries, our students have the unique opportunity to put their language learning into action as they make meaningful friendships with peers from around the world. Through our cross-grade partnerships, our Primary and Lower School students also benefit from our international students’ experiences and perspectives.