Portland: Oregon Episcopal School (OES)

In the Middle School, students choose Chinese, French, or Spanish. Each learner studies the same language for all three years of Middle School with approximately 180 minutes of instruction per week. Our programs each build intentionally scaffolded skills development (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), and we foster cultural literacy through inquiry, projects, and discussions.

In the Upper School language program, students are required to complete a minimum of two consecutive years of study of the same language, regardless of the level at which they begin. It is strongly recommended that students take at least three and preferably four years in the language. A student may choose between Chinese, French, and/or Spanish. Courses are offered from levels one to five in all three languages. Students grow their real-world language skills and develop a more nuanced understanding of the complexity of culture, so that they may express themselves effectively in the language they select while respecting perspectives other than their own.