World Languages

As a result of an Aspen Country Day School education, students will:

• develop communication skills necessary to become proficient in a target language
• develop in-depth understanding of diverse cultures and increase global awareness
• connect language study to other academic areas, cultural awareness, and their everyday lives

Aspen Country Day has long been noted for the strength of its world languages program. The World Language department focuses on all four areas of language study: reading, speaking, listening, and writing.

Exposure to Spanish begins in Kindergarten, and starting in Fifth Grade students choose either French or Spanish to pursue for further study throughout the balance of their Aspen Country Day School journey. 

French or Spanish become core academic subjects in Fifth Grade, on an equal footing with the other academic subjects (Humanities, Math, Science). There is an increasing emphasis on all four areas of language as the students move up the grades. The overall goal is to have the students prepared and confident for language study in high school.

One of the overarching themes is to prepare students to be responsible global citizens. We pursue an in-depth study of culture by exploring the history, geography and political elements of the various cultures. This is one important way ACDS prepares global citizens for engagement in a wider world beyond our valley. For example, a World Language class in Middle School may turn into a heated discussion — in Spanish or French — of current topics in the media, such as immigration, elections, or sustainability.