World Languages

Arabic | Arabic is a critical-need 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. Currently there are five levels, Arabic 4 & 5 being seminar courses taught at the college level.  They are designed to prepare students for the NEWL Exam, an exam used as a predictive assessment for continued Arabic language study beyond high school. 

The process of learning Arabic requires critical thinking and creativity and can help students increase their cognitive abilities. Although the language may seem intimidating, it is actually logical, and its grammar is straightforward to learn. The pedagogy and methodology used to teach Arabic at The Hill is interdisciplinary and experiential, allowing students to thrive in the language starting in their first year. 

Chinese | Chinese is a critical-need language. The Hill School's Chinese program is nationally renowned: For more than 19 years, it has been a model for other schools. As one of only four “Confucius Classrooms” in Pennsylvania, the program offers courses through the AP level and beyond. Chinese is an eminently learnable language, and while the writing system is both beautiful and challenging, the grammar is simpler than many other languages. Additionally, 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 as well as the social and cultural aspects, the cognitive and meta-cognitive skills that accrue from this learning process are invaluable.  

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.