
The Classical and World Language Department: Inspiring Global Awareness and Cross-Cultural Understanding
The goal of our language program is for students to achieve proficiency in either Latin or Spanish and to instill cultural understanding and linguistic curiosity that will benefit them academically and personally. We function with the belief that all students can be successful scholars of linguistics and culture. Language learners at Doane Academy develop an acute global awareness by comparing, analyzing, and examining other cultures through the lens of a different language. To that end, our language students are able to recognize what is common to all human experience and to embrace that which is different. We support Doane Academy’s mission to create strong, ethical leaders by providing the skills necessary to participate in the international community with a well-developed sense of empathy, refined communication skills, and confident globally-minded leadership.
Presented in a dynamic, interactive manner, the courses in our program introduce and reinforce vocabulary and structures for meaningful communication within various cultural contexts. Focused on the study of art, music, literature, history, customs, architecture, and cultural norms of Spanish speaking and ancient Roman civilizations, engaging lessons also work to complement other content areas, such as English and History, providing students with a deeper global and multicultural understanding of the world. In both classical and modern language classes, students develop written and spoken communication skills while improving their listening and reading comprehension abilities. Doane Academy supports language instruction and cultural immersion outside of the classroom by sponsoring field trips, summer camps, and international travel.
The Classical and World Language Department strives to develop well-rounded learners of linguistics and culture. Throughout the program, students are exposed to oral and written language in context and through extensive use of technology and authentic materials. Classes include hands-on activities such as interactive writing prompts, group and individual oral presentations, and inquiry-based research.