Why We Teach Two Foreign Languages Starting in 1st Grade
The Waldorf curriculum is experiential, multidisciplinary, and engaging, designed to resonate with children’s hearts and minds at each grade level—from animal fables in 2nd grade to zoology in 4th grade to business math in 6th grade.
In addition to the core curriculum, students in grades 1-8 take coursework in gardening, handwork, woodwork, world languages, music, orchestra, and physical education year-round, taught by a team of specialty teachers.
The World Languages Program
World language is a key component of the elementary and middle school program at Marin Waldorf School. Here, children receive formal instruction in both Mandarin and Spanish from 1st to 6th grade. After that, students focus on the study of a single foreign language for the final two years of middle school.
In the early grades, teachers bring language to life through stories, games, songs, art, and verses, reinforcing oral and listening skills. Building vocabulary is another key focus in grades 1-3, with students playing games and telling stories to learn greetings, colors, animals, numbers, days of the week, and other practical words and phrases.
In 4th grade, students begin to learn basic Mandarin grammar while more complex writing is explored in Spanish class, including the introduction of adjectives, articles, and regular verbs. By middle school, students are ready to take up more complex Spanish grammar and character writing in Mandarin. As with all subject classes, many of the topics we cover in Mandarin and Spanish mirror themes in the core curriculum.
Why Two Languages?
We require two languages for students in grades 1-6. Why?
It’s Practical! Mandarin and Spanish are are among the most widely spoken languages globally. Learning these two languages opens the door to communication with people across the Bay Area and across the world.
Cognitive Boost. Acquiring new languages stimulates new neural pathways in the brain. In fact, there is evidence that learning Mandarin, with its complex tones and character writing, stimulates parts of the brain that aren’t stimulated by English and romance languages.
New Perspectives. Learning foreign languages gives us access to new ways of thinking and expressing ourselves. Learning multiple languages promotes creativity and flexibility in children, as well as a deeper understanding of the human experience.
Cultural Connection. A language is a gateway to culture. Our rich and experiential world languages program is specifically designed to connect children with the world around them through cultural lessons and experiences, enriching their educational journey. Through the study of English, Mandarin, and Spanish, we travel across the globe and through time, learning to understand human culture and history.
The Benefits of Language Learning
Cognitive Development
Research consistently shows that there are profound cognitive benefits to learning a foreign language, as well as many qualities promoted through language acquisition, like open-mindedness, creativity, and critical thinking. Learning a language has also been linked to academic achievement across subject areas and creative thinking. Children’s brains, characterized by their neuroplasticity, are particularly receptive to new languages, making elementary and middle school an excellent time to begin their formal study.
Supports Language Arts Curriculum
In elementary and middle school, the language arts curriculum covers increasingly complex topics in English composition and grammar. Through Spanish and Mandarin instruction, children learn how language works, enhancing their abilities in English by deepening their understanding of grammar, sentence structure, parts of speech, and verb conjugation.
A Cultural Gateway
Learning a new language teaches us new ways of thinking and connects us to the world around us. At Marin Waldorf School, our foreign languages program is specially designed to serve as a cultural gateway to Spanish- and Mandarin-speaking countries and people. Taught by experienced teachers who are also native speakers, both Spanish and Mandarin classes engage children through stories and mythology, traditional music, folk dance, regional cooking and cuisine, and artistic projects that teach them about world cultures.
Our language programs are also the focus of two beloved all-school festivals, Día de Muertos in November and Lunar New Year in February. At these events, students have an opportunity to perfect their speaking and presentation skills by performing songs, dances, and verses in Spanish and Mandarin at an all-school assembly. (Read more about the wonderful 2024 Día de Muertos festival here.)
