World Languages

World Languages Department Staff

Administrator for World Languages: Kristi Layman

Department Chair for World Languages:  Elizabeth Rosario Machado

  • The World Language Program of Studies focuses on students' ability to function in the foreign language in a variety of contexts meaningful to them.
  • Primary emphasis is placed on developing students' proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing as well as cultural understanding. In Latin classes, the speaking and listening skills are emphasized to a lesser extent. 

Waiver of the World Language Requirement for the Advanced Studies Diploma

  • According to the Virginia Department of Education, there may be no substitutions, e.g., Computer Science, for the foreign language requirement for the Advanced Studies Diploma. However, there are waivers available for students whose native language is not English. Students whose native language is not English are able to waive two credits of the two-plus-two option for the foreign language requirement in the Advanced Studies Diploma by demonstrating oral and written proficiency in their native language. The waiver program is available with proficiency exams in Spanish, Farsi, Urdu, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Japanese. The proficiency exams are administered by the Instructional Services Department during February and March each year. Students may also use two credits of ESL at the B1 level to fulfill two of the foreign language requirements. These are waivers of the requirements only, not the total number of credits to be earned. Students still will need to earn 23 credits for the Advanced Studies Diploma.

Rising Freshmen World Languages Course Offerings

Current Students World Languages Course Offerings