Spanish

Philosophy of the Westport FLES (Foreign Language Elementary School Program)

Westport has long been a strong advocate of providing students the opportunity to learn a second language. The acquisition of skills and cultural understanding are significantly improved through long, uninterrupted sequences of the study of a second language. A language learner’s proficiency is measured be the progression of the learner’s ability to perform in the areas of listening, speaking and writing and in the demonstration of cultural understanding.

Language teaching has undergone a shift over time from a mental discipline of rote learning and translation to the use of language to better understand our world neighbors and transact business in an ever-growing global marketplace.

The FLES program is founded on the belief that the study of a second language improves overall academic performance and encourages superior problem-solving skills. Studying a second language is most beneficial when initiated during primary school and continued through secondary school.