Browne Academy's World Language department, offering both French and Spanish, encourages students to open their minds to a world where communication is essential.

The World Language program at Browne Academy, taught by native speakers, is designed to expose the students to not only language and culture, but also to increase awareness and respect for cultural diversity. As a school, Browne Academy values and advocates the richness of a multicultural community, and is composed of members with various perspectives and backgrounds that foster global awareness through respect and understanding.

The objectives of the World Language curriculum are quite varied, from gaining an appreciation for another culture to completing the first or second year of high school foreign language study. Small class sizes allow for a tailored program that includes a developmentally appropriate approach for each student and promotes academic success. The four skill areas: listening, speaking, reading and writing, combined with the practices and perspectives of the culture being studied, are integral parts of the World Language curriculum. Students communicate through oral and written skills using the interpersonal, interpretive and presentational modes. Using a variety of inter-disciplinary activities that emphasize areas of study adds depth and personal understanding to the excitement of learning a foreign language.

The ultimate objective of Browne Academy’s World Language program is to provide the skills needed for students to enter high school in French II and Spanish II. By reinforcing and solidifying the four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, as well as incorporating culture, students are given the tools needed to achieve this objective. The following means are used with students: text/workbook materials, homework assignments, accountability for concepts learned, lectures, oral discussions and exercises, role-playing, games, technology resources and continuous assessment for accountability of previously learned concepts. Students are engaged in age-appropriate hands-on activities and participate in projects, making connections across all disciplines. Students are evaluated through individual and group activities that provide social interaction combined with real life situations.

Field trips and coordinated cultural activities on campus add unique richness to the program by exposing the students to Hispanic and French cultural landmarks and traces in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area. These activities allow the students to explore, identify, compare and contrast Hispanic and French cultures first hand.