Modern & Classical Languages

Languages are doorways into other worlds.Language courses at Loomis Chaffee equip you to explore and understand life in lands beyond your home. Through interactive communicative experiences and deep cultural study, under the guidance of our knowledgeable and caring faculty, you will develop skills essential for positive global citizenship in today’s world.

Key Highlights

We offer instruction in five languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Latin, and Spanish.
All courses focus on linguistic proficiency side-by-side with cultural literacy.
Modern language classes emphasize oral proficiency and aim to prepare students to converse comfortably with native speakers.
Courses in Latin focus on the skills needed to appreciate Latin prose and poetry. Special attention is given to political and societal movements in the late Republic and early Empire.
Students in fifth-year French, Latin, and Spanish have flexible course choices for one, two, or three terms of the year. Each term course focuses on a specific geographic region or artistic genre (ex: French Cinema, Roman Comedy, Latin American short stories.)

Featured Courses

Arabic V

This course explores historical and contemporary issues in the Arabic-speaking world through examining primary source material in media, history, literature (e.g., poetry, plays, and short novels), and film. Emphasis is placed on reading, analytical writing, and speaking in MSA, as the students develop their abilities to engage with sophisticated topics in the primary sources. Students practice their writing, reading, listening, and speaking skills both in the classroom and independently.

French V: Cinema

In this course, students will view and discuss a number of significant and celebrated films that define the major genres of French and Francophone cinema in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. By analyzing characters, themes, historical references, scenes and cinematic techniques, students will develop a greater appreciation for the cinematic arts and deepen their understanding of French culture.

CL Chinese VI: Contemporary Issues in China

Through selected newspaper articles and essays, this course explores the evolution of Chinese society over the past several decades — a period of time during which we have witnessed a departure from many traditional Chinese ideals. From the astronomical prices of housing and university studies to the “one child” policy, students will tackle difficult topics and gain a better understanding of contemporary issues in the “New China.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How are students placed in the correct level?

We use evaluations from their former teacher for placement, and students intending to take French or Spanish will take an online placement exam. For Chinese, we ask students for writing and speaking samples, and teachers may interview some advanced students before the start of classes. Teachers also monitor the progress of new students at the beginning of the year and make suggestions for level changes where appropriate.