World Languages

Arabic | Arabic is a critical language. The Hill's Arabic program begins with a Level 1 introductory course that is intended for students who are new to the language. At Level 2, an honors track is added for those students wishing to accelerate their learning, and the honors track continues at all levels. We currently offer four levels of Arabic. The process of learning Arabic will require critical thinking and creativity, and can help students increase their cognitive abilities. Although the language may seem intimidating, it is rather logical and its grammar is straightforward to learn. The pedagogy and methodology used to teach Arabic at The Hill School is experiential, allowing students to thrive in the language starting in their first year, in an engaging, full-immersion environment.

Chinese | There are many reasons to study Chinese: it is a critical language that will give you a skill set that will distinguish you when applying to colleges or looking for a career; it will open doors to one of the most amazing cultures in human history; it will help you understand and be able to work with nearly a fifth of the population of the world; and it will grow your brain in ways you’ve never dreamed of. If you love history, art or food, if you care about the geopolitics of the 21st century, or if you want to work in science or business, learning Chinese can benefit you greatly.

The Hill School's Chinese program is nationally renowned: for most of its 18 year history it has been a model for other schools to visit; its teachers have sat on national boards and consult for College Board and other organizations; and it is one of only four “Confucius Classrooms” in Pennsylvania. Chinese is an eminently learnable language, and while the writing system is both beautiful and challenging, the grammar is much simpler than many other languages, and the tonal nature of the language engages parts of the brain that non-tonal languages do not. Beyond the practical and career-oriented benefits of learning Chinese, and the social and cultural aspects, the cognitive and meta-cognitive skills that accrue from this learning process are also valuable in many ways.

French | The French program begins with a Level 1 introductory course that is intended for students who are new to the language. At Level 2, an honors track is added for those students wishing to accelerate their learning, and the honors track continues at all levels. The School requires three years of language study in a single language, and at the conclusion of Level 3, students are prepared to take the SAT-II Subject test in French. With 94% of our students enrolled in a modern language, it is clear that Hill students often exceed the requirement.

Advanced French 4 Honors offers students an opportunity to enhance their communication skills in a way that prepares them for the AP Language course. It is presented as a two-year sequence, is arranged thematically, and allows for some grammar review. French 4 AP Language prepares students for the College Board examination. French 5 Senior Seminar is offered to students of native, or near native ability who wish to continue their study of French with a concentration on literature.

Spanish | The Spanish program enjoys the strongest student enrollment within the World Languages Department. Course sequencing is identical to that of the French program, with two notable exceptions. The Department continues to offer the College Board approved Spanish 5 AP Literature (no longer offered in French), and the Department offers Spanish 6, a college-level course comprised of native, heritage and near-native speakers.