Chapin School’s foreign language department, believes that learning a foreign language is an essential component of the learning experience for several reasons.  First, it is important to engender and develop an appreciation of communicating in a foreign language so that our students will acquire a heightened sensitivity to and a deeper knowledge of their own language.  As research has illustrated, learning another language, especially if it is begun at an early age, also further develops the higher-order critical thinking skills which students will need in order to succeed at the secondary school level.  Moreover, in an ever-increasingly multicultural world, we want to expose our students from the second through the eighth grade to aural and written Spanish and French as a key to gaining access to invaluable insights into the characteristics, values and customs of Spanish- and French- speaking peoples. 

It is the school's philosophy that learning a foreign language can and should be an interesting and entertaining endeavor.  Delving into the study of another language provides the learner with new insights into the people and customs of the countries in which the language is spoken.  It also enables students to develop a clearer understanding of the English language.  Foreign language can be taught in a way which addresses a variety of learning styles, thus making the language learning experience accessible to all types of learners.

• Spanish is taught in grades 5 - 8.

• French is taught in grades 6, 7 and 8.      

• Foreign language is taught by one part-time and two full-time instructors. 

• Fifth grade meet three times per week, sixth grade classes meet four times a week, and seventh and eighth grade classes meet five times per week.