Foreign Language curriculum

KCD offers students in grades JK to 12 the opportunity to study a foreign language.
In our lower school, Spanish is offered in JK-4 during two 30 minutes classes per week. The language is taught in connection with the topics being covered in the classroom.

In Middle School, students in the 5th grade take a comparative language class with a trimester of French, Latin and Spanish. At the end of each trimester, a joint celebration with the students from all three languages during which a common theme (holidays, cooking) etc is explored from the perspective of each language/culture. This class is an opportunity for students to see the close relationships among the three languages.

In 6th grade, students may continue with Spanish or may wish to start either French or Latin. 7th and 8th grade language is considered the equivalent to an Upper School level I course and receives Upper School credit.

In the Upper School, all three languages are offered including the AP levels of Language and Literature. The Foreign Language faculty at KCD employs a variety of methods to teach their respective languages. TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling) is taught as well as traditional methods.

In addition to the rigorous course offerings, students participate in national competitions in their specific languages as well as the Regional and State Language Festivals. KCD students annually receive national recognition for their scores on the exams and routinely place in the top 5 at both the Regional and State Festivals.

KCD language students have many diverse opportunities offered by the Multicultural Club and are able to put their language skills to use by travel abroad. Prior trips have included Costa Rica, Spain, Italy, France and Québec. KCD has established a exchange program and French students hosted 17 students from a lycée in France during April 2005 and are now planning to visit these families during our spring break in April 2006.