World Language

Department Philosophy

The BPS World Language Department believes that learning another language empowers students to communicate meaningfully, develop cultural understanding, and connect with people and communities beyond their own experiences. Through language learning, students develop curiosity, empathy, acceptance, and an appreciation for diverse perspectives while gaining greater understanding of themselves and others. We prepare students to use language for authentic communication, build meaningful cultural connections, and participate confidently in an interconnected world. Ultimately, students develop the communication skills and intercultural competence necessary to become informed, empathetic, and engaged global citizens.

Approach to Teaching & Learning

World Language instruction is grounded in the ACTFL Core Practices and the belief that all students can develop language proficiency through meaningful, authentic communication. Classrooms provide immersive environments in which the target language is the primary mode of communication and students regularly speak, listen, read, and write for purposeful, real-world contexts. Grammar is developed in context as a tool for communication, while authentic cultural and linguistic resources expose students to diverse perspectives and experiences. Through comprehensible input, scaffolded interaction, backward design, and ongoing feedback, students build confidence, accuracy, proficiency, and intercultural competence.