As nations become increasingly interdependent, the need for effective communication and sensitivity to foreign cultures becomes ever more important. Language study opens doors to new cultures, thereby enhancing the student’s education in a multitude of subject areas including fine arts, history, geography, cuisine and sociology.
Through Pius' world languages program, students learn to think bi-culturally from both their own perspectives and the peoples studied. Students develop language proficiency, cultural knowledge and sensitivity, and a desire to seek first-hand experiences.
In addition to its core curriculum, the department plans a variety of cultural exchanges – home stays abroad, student exchanges and class trips are part of the program. Additionally, Pius XI offers a scholarship program for students who wish to engage in educational study and travel abroad.
Numerous colleges and universities offer retroactive credit for language study and Pius graduates have received as many as 16 college credits for their high school study.
Incoming freshmen are placed in a language level based on the recommendation of their present language teacher and department evaluation. Currently, Pius XI offers six years of French and Spanish, and four years of Native Speaker Spanish.
The World Languages Program is designed to:
- Give you the skills for proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing an acquired language, including the ability to improve language proficiency independent of the teacher.
- Provide you with many opportunities to become knowledgeable about and have insight into the history and culture where your acquired language is spoken. These opportunities allow you to better understand and appreciate cultural and historical differences and connections, leading to a greater understanding of your own culture and that of others.
- Cultivate your awareness of the connections between your native language and the acquired language with the goal of a deeper understanding of both languages.
- Be taken all four years for language proficiency. Many universities require two and, in some cases, three or four years of a single world language for admission. Opportunities for advanced study in Spanish, German and French are offered and you may choose to study two languages.
- Students can earn college credit for work they do at Pius in the World Language Department. This type of credit, which most colleges offer, is typically called “retro credit” and can be earned by being placed into a non-introductory college World Language course and successfully completing it. The more levels taken at Pius the more likely it is that you can place higher into a college’s program, where you would earn college credit for some or all of the prerequisite courses.
Courses:
French I through VI
Spanish I through V
Spanish for Heritage Speakers I through IV