Shore Spotlight: Learning Languages & Global Education

Shore parents and caregivers gathered on campus on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, for the second event of the Shore Spotlight Series to learn about how our students are learning languages combined with global education skills.

As the event began under the spinning globe on the second floor of the Kiva, Director of Instruction and Inclusion Andrew Lee posed the question “what interpersonal skills help you be successful in work and life?’ After writing down their thoughts, attendees broke out into two sessions – one focused on learning languages and global education in the Lower School, and the other focused on the Upper School.

In the Lower School session, Claudia Ovalle, World Language Department Chair and Lower School Spanish Teacher, and Lower School Spanish Teacher Meghan McGeehan showcased their animated, high-energy approach to how our youngest learners engage with languages best. In the Upper School session, Spanish Teachers Manny Brito and Omar Machado, and Latin Teacher Doug Lucey, also showcased the immersive and enthusiastic teaching styles that have students leaving their classrooms excited by their comfort with a new language.

In both sessions, parents and caregivers laughed as they answered questions, participated in activities, and felt safe to learn and make mistakes. Learning languages and global education, no matter at what grade level, helps prepare students to be healthy, compassionate citizens of the world. While this is done in a number of ways at Shore, it can be broken down as follows:

COMMUNICATION
How do students use the target language?
  • To interpret what they hear, read, or view
  • To share information, ideas, opinions, and perspectives in conversation
  • To present to audiences
  • To interact with others interculturally

LINGUISTIC CULTURES
What do students communicate about?
  • Practices and perspectives of cultures (e.g. families, last names, pastimes)
  • Similarities, differences, and interconnectedness between cultures (e.g. Rome and Egypt, U.S. and Spain’s subcultures)

LIFELONG LEARNING
Why do students use the target language?
  • To reinforce and build interdisciplinary knowledge
  • To explore diverse perspectives
  • To develop socioemotional skills such as persistence and empathy
  • To practice empathy and prejudice reduction

After the breakout sessions, everyone gathered in the Library for a panel about learning languages and global education. Prominent themes included the confidence instilled through learning languages, how skills and topics seep into other classes and life, as well as how the answer to the question posed at the start of the morning, “what interpersonal skills help you be successful in work and life?”  may have developed or changed.

The second event in our Spotlight Series was a great opportunity for adults in our community to gain firsthand experience about how we guide students to be their best as thinkers and doers.


PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
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Shore Country Day School

545 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915
(978) 927-1700
Shore Country Day School’s mission is to provide an education that inspires a love of learning and encourages children to embrace academic challenge. We seek to build character, cultivate creativity, and value diversity as we help our children become healthy, compassionate citizens of the world.
The School admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law, and extends to them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its admissions, scholarships, and loans, and its educational, athletic, and other programs.