Middle School World Languages

CMS World Language Programs cultivate globally competent students through intentional learning pathways that will allow students to develop linguistic and intercultural communicative competencies. This includes pathways for heritage speakers and dual language/immersion students to develop, maintain, and enhance their heritage or immersion language proficiency.

CMS World Language Programs employ a curriculum based on the ACTFL and NCDPI standards and thematic units, with clearly defined proficiency targets, which provide scaffolded language learning experiences and opportunities for students to interact with authentic sources in the target language.

Courses Offered in grades 6-8

In most 6-8 programs, students have an opportunity to take a nine or 18-week Exploratory or Middle Middle School non-credit World Language course in the 6th grade. The language(s) offered will depend on the staffing at each middle school. Completing Exploratory courses or non-credit "Middle School" courses will not meet the requirements for completing all or part of Level I of a world language.

Level I of a world language in middle school consists of a two-year sequence of study for high school credit:

• Level I part A in the 7th grade
• Level I part B in the 8th grade (requires successful completion of part A)

Students who intend to participate in the IB program in high school, or continue into AP for their World Language pathway, should begin their high school credit world language studies in the 7th grade.

Spanish for Native Speakers I in middle school consists of a two-year sequence of study for high school credit:

• SNS I part A in the 7th grade
• SNS I part B in the 8th grade (requires successful completion of part A)

It is designed to enhance students' reading and writing skills whose heritage or native language is Spanish. The course also provides Spanish speakers the opportunity to read, discuss and write about various genres of literary works in Spanish. In addition, students focus on current events as they affect Spanish speakers throughout the world.

There may be other high school credit pathways available for dual language immersion continuation students, heritage or native speakers of other languages, or heritage and native Spanish speakers in schools that do not offer Spanish for Native Speakers. Please ask your school's counselor about these options.

What will my student be able to do at the end of each World Language course or program? Click on the NCDPI World Languages Proficiency Outcomes Document to see the minimum exit proficiency expectations for each course or program.  Please note that the learning targets usually aim for 1-2 sublevels above the minimum exit proficiency outcomes.

Languages Offered in grades 6-8

Currently, the following languages are offered in grades 6-8 in CMS. Language offerings will vary by school, based on staffing:

• Chinese
• French
• German
• Japanese
• Latin
• Spanish
• Spanish for Native Speakers

NCVPS offers additional languages. Please ask your school's counselor about these options.

• ACTFL (National Organization)
• NCDPI World Languages