Language & Culture
Building fluency in Spanish and Modern Hebrew through immersive, culturally rooted instruction.
The ultimate goal of language learning at MSA is for all students to graduate from high school fluent in both Spanish and Modern Hebrew. Beginning in middle school and continuing through high school, students will steadily build toward full fluency. Beyond language proficiency, students will develop a deep understanding of and meaningful connection to the cultures associated with each language through sustained exposure, study, and interaction.
Middle School Language Path
6th Grade
Students will spend one trimester in an introductory Spanish course and one trimester in an introductory Hebrew course. In the third trimester, students will have the opportunity to pursue the language they feel a stronger affinity toward. While all students will continue developing both languages throughout their time at MSA, this structure allows them to begin building a primary focus, receiving additional time and attention in one language while continuing to grow in the other.
7th Grade
Students will take Spanish II in the first trimester and Hebrew II in the second trimester. Beginning in the third trimester, instruction will shift to a balanced model in which students engage in both languages throughout the week, typically alternating between Spanish and Hebrew across instructional days.
8th Grade
Students will continue this dual-language model, further strengthening proficiency, confidence, and cultural competence in both languages as they prepare for the advanced coursework and immersion experiences offered in high school.
Language Labs & Mosaic Days
Across all three years, students will have access to intensive language labs and targeted support during designated Mosaic Days, allowing for acceleration, remediation, and enrichment.
8th Grade Capstone: Travel Abroad
As a culminating middle school experience, MSA aims to offer a capstone travel abroad opportunity at the end of 8th grade, where students will participate in a service-based learning experience in a country where one of their target languages is spoken — reinforcing their long-term path toward fluency by graduation.