Language Acquisition
In our IB Middle Years Programme Language Acquisition courses, language is lived, not isolated. As a dual language Spanish–English Montessori school, students learn languages through daily use, shared experiences, and meaningful communication. Spanish is taught as a subject and used as a language of instruction across the curriculum, allowing students to develop fluency, confidence, and cultural awareness in authentic contexts.
Language as Daily Practice
Language learning happens throughout the day. Students engage with Spanish and English in academic work, collaborative projects, and community life. Lessons, discussions, and activities regularly take place in both languages, reinforcing comprehension and expression while normalizing bilingual thinking. Language becomes a tool for learning rather than an object of study alone.
Building Voice and Confidence
Our focus is on helping students find and trust their voice in each language. Students are encouraged to take risks, speak often, and communicate even when their language is still developing. Accuracy grows alongside confidence through practice, feedback, and reflection. The goal is clear communication, self-expression, and the ability to engage meaningfully with others.
Culture and Community
Language acquisition is inseparable from culture. Students participate in cultural moments that reflect the languages they are learning, including school traditions, performances, celebrations, and community events. Many of these shared experiences, including events to which families are invited, take place in Spanish or English, reinforcing language learning as a collective and joyful practice.
Language Across the Curriculum
Spanish is not confined to language class. Students use Spanish as a working language in other subjects, strengthening vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency in real academic contexts. This interdisciplinary approach supports deeper understanding while reinforcing the practical power of bilingualism.
The Great Works
As in Language and Literature, each unit culminates in a Great Work that challenges students to apply their language skills in increasingly complex ways. These projects emphasize clarity, structure, and audience awareness in the target language. Examples include:
The Great Story, developing narrative voice and expression
The Speech, focused on oral communication and presence
The Essay, building academic language and structure
The Proposal, combining research, persuasion, and presentation
Through these works, students learn to communicate with intention and confidence in more than one language.
Preparing Global Communicators
By the end of the MYP Language Acquisition program, students are comfortable navigating multiple languages and cultural contexts. They see language as a bridge to connection, understanding, and action. This foundation prepares them for advanced study, meaningful participation in a multilingual world, and a lifelong appreciation for communication in all its forms.
