World Language

Spanish and Mandarin

Girls doing calligraphy in Mandarin class

Teaching languages at an early age helps children improve their higher thinking skills, and learning about other cultures helps children learn responsible citizenship. They develop insight into the nature of language and culture so that they can participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world.

The World Language program at Westside School is designed for students from Preschool to 8th Grade to organically acquire second languages in the most natural form possible.

Rather than the traditional approach of focusing on vocabulary and grammar, our students focus on acquiring language through an understanding of the connection between: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities. Adhering to these 5 C’s, we ensure that our students can:

  • Learn Spanish and Mandarin in a natural, consistent, and holistic way
  • Set proficiency goals that focus on language performance and progress
  • Develop a growth mindset and become a lifelong learner

Our World Language program focuses on instilling in students the awareness and understanding of the colorfulness from other cultures, cultivating their senses of being Global Citizens, and solidifying pathways of language development that support their future language learning.

Preschool-5th grade students take both Mandarin and Spanish each year. In 6th grade, students decide which language they want to concentrate on and take that World Language as a daily core academic course.

Lower School World Language

Middle School World Language

Three students holding a bag of mushrooms in a store in Chinatown

LEARNING AT WESTSIDE

SPECIALISTS


 

WORLD LANGUAGE TEAM

Vanessa Chen

Vanessa Chen

Middle School Mandarin Teacher

Kelly Liu

Kelly Liu

Lower School Mandarin Teacher

Teresa Colell

Teresa Colell

Lower School and Early Learning Spanish Teacher

Siena Hogan

Siena Hogan

Full-time Substitute

Mia Williford

Mia Williford

Middle School Spanish Teacher