Annie Wright to Offer Middle School Chinese Program

Annie Wright Schools First in South Sound to Offer Middle School Chinese Program

Tacoma, Wash.—Beginning in fall 2013, Annie Wright Schools will offer Chinese language instruction to Middle and Upper School students. The school is the first in the South Sound to offer a Middle School Chinese Program.

Annie Wright Schools will continue to offer Spanish, for students in Preschool-Grade 12, and French, for students in the Upper School. Starting in Grade 6, students will choose between Spanish or Chinese; then in Grade 9, they will choose between Spanish, Chinese or French.

Annie Wright students in Preschool-Grade 2 learn Spanish once a week. Beginning in Grade 3, students take Spanish every day. With the implementation of Chinese in Fall of 2013, Students in Grades 4 and 5, in conjunction with the homeroom teachers, will be introduced to Chinese culture and language, thus preparing students and families to make an informed choice about which language to take in Grade 6

“Faculty and staff at Annie Wright Schools believe it is important to introduce children to a second language at a young age,” says Christian G. Sullivan, Head of Annie Wright Schools. “Research suggests that younger children’s neurological pathways are more receptive to second language acquisition, and that early exposure is beneficial.” Simultaneously, the school faculty and staff believe it is critical that Annie Wright’s youngest students have the required time to gain a very solid grounding in core academic areas. Annie Wright’s program allows early exposure to a second modern language, ensures adequate time is spent on gaining the building blocks for later academic success in core areas, and allows older students to spend the necessary time to allow a high degree of proficiency in a second modern language.

Annie Wright Schools are two schools on one campus: a day school for boys and girls in Preschool through Grade 8, and an all-girls day and boarding school for Grades 9 through 12. The Upper School offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Learn more at www.aw.org.