Arrupe Language Choices
All students in the Arrupe Division will choose a language and study that language in both seventh and eighth grades. We offer Spanish, French, Latin and Mandarin Chinese. Seventh graders will begin a two-year program designed to help the student to master the same skills and content that would be offered in a first-year high school course.
Each language will challenge you in a unique way depending on your language background. To guide you we have listed some of the advantages gained by taking each of the languages offered. Please complete the form below by April 24, 2024.
Chinese
Chinese stands as the world’s most widely spoken first language, and the Chinese economy ranks as the second largest globally. In addition to the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan, Mandarin Chinese is also spoken in the important and influential Chinese communities of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, and Mongolia. Esteemed colleges and universities consistently acknowledge the significance of Chinese language proficiency. Mastery of Mandarin Chinese opens doors to expanded opportunities within the global business landscape, and given our emphasis on global education, BC High proudly offers Mandarin as a language offering.
French and Advanced French
French is a prominent language in Western Europe and Africa and remains widely used in diplomatic circles. With over 250 million speakers across more than 50 countries, French holds significant global influence. The United States exports more to nations with French as a national language than to any other foreign language-speaking countries. At BC High, our students consistently excel on the AP Language & Culture examination, and many go on to take the DELF exam in their senior year. Their fluency in French has proven instrumental in accessing opportunities in both higher education and professional realms.
For those students who have studied in an immersion French program, we offer an Advanced French course that allows the students to continue to build their proficiency in speaking and reading French while also focusing on the grammar necessary for high school French.
Latin
The principle aim of our classical languages program is to enable a student to read in Greek and Latin what the great authors of the classical period wrote. These seminal works – universally admired for over 2000 years – give students a perspective on their own lives and times. The student must, of course, “pay his dues” in Latin or Greek before he can read Cicero or Socrates, but even the first years of Latin have immediate benefits for the student. Since over half of English words derive from Latin roots, students improve their English vocabulary as they learn Latin. Recent studies show that Latin students consistently scored higher on the verbal section of the SAT than students studying any other foreign language. Likewise, students often come to understand and learn English grammar for the first time when they come to grips with Latin grammar. Ultimately, students will be able to read the great Roman authors in their own tongue
Spanish
According to U.S. Census figures, more than 41 million Americans speak Spanish. Whichever career path you ultimately pursue, your ability to communicate in Spanish and your familiarity with Latin American and Spanish culture will provide invaluable advantages. As the number of Spanish speakers worldwide continues to rise, so do the career opportunities for Spanish-speaking BC High graduates. Many BC High students have discovered that proficiency in Spanish enhances their ability to engage with individuals within their communities.
*Please complete this form by April 24, 2024. We will contact you if there are any questions with your form. Should you have any questions, please contact Bob Hamblet P’20, ’26, Head of the Arrupe Division, [email protected]