Language and Culture Studies

Two years of study in the same language (Latin or Spanish) at the upper school level are required for graduation. The Spanish is conversation based and conducted in Spanish beginning with the first year classes. Latin is taught as a flipped classroom that allow students to learn at their own pace using principles of differentiated instruction. Each class day is preceded by students individually watching brief video introductions, sometimes accompanied by a related hard copy overview of the same principle. The next class day, students work on an assignment and evaluation linked to the video introduction. The teacher works with individuals or small groups to help resolve issues until the assignment is completely understood, at which point the student moves on to the next Stage (chapter). Students at an average pace will finish roughly one Unit per year, but they may be able to accelerate and advance at a faster pace.

Students may continue study in the same language through advanced levels, either at SAS or at the University of the South. ELL courses are available for non-native speakers who require additional course work. ELL courses are in lieu of another foreign language but are taken concurrently with other subjects. Students who test out of ELL must fulfill the two-year foreign language requirement with a language other than English.

Aspire to be a polyglot? In addition to continued study in Latin and Spanish, qualified students may pursue language study at the University of the South in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, and/or Russian.