Foreign Language
Coordinator of Foreign Language, Rita DiCarlo
rdicarlo@medford.k12.ma.us
781-393-2375
- Medford High School Staff
- Middle School Staff
- Elementary School Italian Teachers
- Foreign Language Department Mission
- Advanced Placement (AP) Exams
- Immersion Programs
- School Trips
- News
Medford High School Foreign Language Staff
French Teachers
Ms. Lina Smith
Ms. Sonya Marrone
Italian Teachers
Ms. Rita DiCarlo
Ms. Felisabeth Pancheri
Ms. Sonya Marrone
Spanish Teachers
Ms. Leanne Cirigliano
Ms. Elizabeth Gomez
Ms. Nélida Muñoz Lepore
Ms. Gabriella Mirabella
Ms. Felisabeth Pancheri
Mr. Michael Skorker
Middle School Foreign Language Staff
Italian Teachers
Mrs. Michela DeBari
Ms. Jessica Marchifrazier
Spanish Teachers
Mr. James Dickens
Ms. Kathryn Schulte
Ms. Jessica Marchifrazier
Elementary School Italian Teachers
Brooks
Mrs. Giovanna Trombetta
Columbus
Ms. Laura Odoguardi
Ms. Adele Scaramuzzo
McGlynn
Ms. Rosetta Romagnoli
Ms. Laura Odoguardi
Roberts
Mrs. Adele Scaramuzzo
Foreign Language Department Mission Statement
The Foreign Language Department of the Medford Public Schools is committed to satisfying the requirements of the Curriculum Framework put forth by the state of Massachusetts. It is our goal to prepare students using the best knowledge available regarding foreign language pedagogy and to adapt curriculum and methods to achieve success for the greatest number of students.
Guidelines
We subscribe to the belief that all students should learn a foreign language and that this instruction should begin as early as possible.
Communication is at the heart of what we do. Proficiency and skills development are the foremost goals. The Framework says, “The study of the language system itself, while useful for some students, does not automatically result in the development of the ability to process language in real situations… Most learners learn a modern language best when they are provided opportunities to use the target language to communicate in a wide range of activities.”(p.14-15) Therefore, teachers will use the target language as much as possible in class. Students also are expected to use the language with the teacher, in written work, and in pair or group activities to exchange information or solve problems.
To be truly proficient requires an understanding and appreciation of the peoples who speak the language studied (target language.) This cultural knowledge includes the typical products of culture, history, geography, literature and the arts as well as the common routines and features of everyday life. Knowledge of the target culture(s) as well as an understanding of how it compares to our own is essential for a well-educated person.
Teachers are encouraged to make connections with other disciplines so that students may be challenged to use the higher order thinking skills of synthesis and analysis. Students are also able to take better ownership of the material as they add new facts and restudy the material from a new perspective.
Foreign language, like other subject areas, prepares students for life-long learning. Efforts to make connections to the community, learn technology skills, and develop research abilities are valuable components of the curriculum.
The Italian Language and Culture AP Exam has been reinstated.
AP Italian, AP French, and AP Spanish will be administered during the first two weeks of May 2012.
Students are encouraged to visit the College Board website for more information.
- Italian, other language immersion programs offered at the Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy
- Concordia Language Villages offers scholarships for the 2012 summer youth (ages 7 ? 18) immersion programs. Some scholarships may include travel stipends. The Language Villages has been a leader in immersion language and culture education for over 50 years and offers 1, 2 and 4 week residential immersion summer camps in 15 languages. More information available at www.ConcordiaLanguageVillages.org/scholarships.
Please check out information and pictures about our school trips this year! Italy is below followed by Spain:
Medford High School’s Italian Adventure
The Friday before school vacation started, we left the snow behind and landed in a place where lemons and oranges abounded on trees: Sorrento is where we started our journey. Words cannot describe the natural beauty of this part of Italy! We rode in the winding roads of the Amalfi Coast and visited Positano, the picturesque town featured in films like “Only You” and “Under the Tuscan Sun.” William James chose it for the setting of his recent romantic novel, “Finding Positano, A Love Story.” It was so beautiful there that we did not want to leave, but we had to follow our itinerary and the next day we visited the ruins of Pompeii… a very different site.
Pompeii is the ancient Roman city that was destroyed by the eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD and was completely buried by its ashes. Historians had left accounts about the city of Pompeii, but for many centuries nobody knew where it was. It remained buried and lost from civilization for more than 1,600 years until it was accidentally rediscovered. In 1599 some workers unearthed an ancient wall with the inscription of “Pompeii” while trying to dig an underground channel to divert the river. To date only part of Pompeii has been excavated; a good portion of the city still remains buried. Pompeii is a UNESCO Word Heritage Site visited by over 2.6 million tourists every year. For us it was surreal to walk on ancient stone streets and see houses that are well over 2,000 years old.
From very ancient to very modern, the next day we hopped on the high speed train “Frecciarossa” that travels at a rate of 355 kilometers per hour (221 miles/hr) to Firenze, the birthplace of the Renaissance. The city of Firenze (Florence) is a living museum… there is art everywhere you look!
Dr. Krueger wanted the MHS students to remember when looking at the Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore) in Florence that Mark Twain once called it “a cathedral in pajamas.” It must be because the outside walls of this astonishing cathedral are covered with stripes of colorful marble. Mark Twain also said the following about the Duomo: “What a wonder it is! So grand, so solemn, so vast! And yet so delicate, so airy, so graceful! A very world of solid weight, and yet it seems …a delusion of frostwork that might vanish with a breath!…” (from Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain, 1869)
The Medford High School group, along with students from Waltham High School and Winchester High School, stood speechless in front of the Duomo, its bell tower, and its massive dome… so intricate and so complex!
While in Florence we also visited the magnificent seventeen-foot marble statue of the David which was sculpted by Michelangelo in 1504. We went to the Pitti Palace, residence of the Medici Family, and to the Boboli Gardens. We admired Ponte Vecchio, did lots of shopping, and put a coin into the gaping jaws of Il Porcellino (a bronze statue of a boar) for good luck and to ensure a return to Firenze. One of our evenings in Florence we attended a cooking class. We assisted the chef and then ate what we cooked… Buonissimo!
We headed for Rome, our final destination, but like many pilgrims going to Rome during the middle ages, we made a stop in San Gimignano, one of the best preserved medieval Etruscan towns. Many cities in medieval times built towers to symbolize their strength. Over the years many of these towers were destroyed by wars or natural disasters. San Gimignano has managed to preserve its fourteen towers, one of which is 177 feet high. The movie “Tea with Mussolini” was filmed in San Gimignano. It is also a setting in John Grisham’s novel “The Broker” where the character Joel Backman, hoping to keep his wife from divorcing him, takes her on vacation in San Gimignano. We shopped some more, ate gelato, and it was time to continue our journey.
We arrived in Rome, the Eternal City, whose history spans over two and a half thousand years. We visited the Roman Forum and walked in the impressive Colosseum trying to imagine the gladiator fights that took place there two thousand years ago. We went to Vatican City where we saw Michelangelo’s Pietà in Saint Peter’s Basilica. We admired Raphael’s Frescos in the Vatican Museums and were in awe looking at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo in the early 1500’s. We climbed the Spanish Steps, threw coins in the Trevi Fountain, and of course ate more gelato!
Our last day in Rome was Saturday. In Italy school is in session on Saturdays; students attend school six days a week. Who wants to go to school on a Saturday morning, especially during vacation, but we took two buses to reach a high school in Rome, the Liceo Scientifico Nomentano. The headmaster is Carlo Cipollone, the former Director of the Education Office of the Italian Consulate in Boston who lived on the Fellsway in Medford for six years.
We started our school day in the auditorium where a group of Italian students who study English as a foreign language had prepared a PowerPoint presentation where (in English) they told us about their school life and their cultural exchange trips. After the presentation and introductions we were treated to a breakfast prepared by teachers and families of the students. Each of us received a CD recorded by the music students of the Liceo and then we separated into groups to attend classes. It was a great experience and new Facebook friends were made.
That night our bus took us up on a hill for another magnificent meal and then we gathered in our hotel lobby. Our chaperones divided us into groups and asked us to take turns picking pieces of papers containing questions that they had prepared for us to see how much we learned on this trip. We learned a lot!
We went out for one last gelato and the next morning we boarded the plane for Boston.
What was so great about this trip? Everything! The sights, the culture, the history, the architecture, the shopping, the food, … and the gelato! It was summed up best by one of our students who said, “a picture is worth a thousand words, but memories will last us a lifetime!”
Medford High School’s Trip to Spain
The Inn at La Mancha
Castle in Segovia that inspired Walt Disney
Getting ready to see the Real Madrid soccer team
At the American Embassy with US Ambassador to Spain Alan Solomont
As we all know, we live in a global society, and in order to survive the study of a foreign language is a must. As we learn to speak another language we also develop an understanding and respect for other cultures. Learning a language comes to life when one is able to visit and become immersed in the world of the target language. The Foreign Language Department of Medford High School encourages international cultural experiences by giving students the opportunity to travel to Europe and South America.
The following article was written by John McElearney, a Spanish Four Honors student, who recently returned from a trip to Spain with a group of twenty-five of his fellow students. ¡Olé!
This year the Medford High School Spanish Department sponsored a trip to Spain. Over February vacation, twenty-six students and four chaperones visited one of the most beautiful countries in Europe.
After a nine hour journey, beginning in Boston with a connection through Paris, our group finally arrived in Madrid, where we were happily welcomed by one of the nicest men you could ever meet, our tour guide, Pablo Navazo. Our first outing brought us to the American Embassy where the American Foreign Ambassador, Mr. Alan Solomont, personally treated us to a question and answer session. A Tufts University graduate himself, he happily conversed with his fellow Medford students. He could not have been more welcoming to our group and we would like to thank Ambassador Solomont, his assistants, and the US embassy for their time. We finished the day exploring the center of Madrid.
The next day was one filled with art and culture. Starting with a tour of Madrid that included a stop at the city’s bull fighting arena, we soon found ourselves at two of the most impressive museums in the world; the Museo del Prado and the Reina Sofia. At the Museo del Prado, we experienced the royal works of Velasquez as well as Goya.
From there we went to the Reina Sofia, where we saw one of the most renowned pieces of art in the world; Picasso’s Guernica. The painting took up the entire wall of a room that is twice the size of most at Medford High School. The black and white Cubist masterpiece is a shining example at how art can be used to encapsulate and change the world in which it is created.
To end the day, most of the group was able to see Madrid’s world famous soccer team play. The stadium, though not entirely different from the stadiums here in the U.S., was quite memorable, and the team was incredible. Sweeping the visiting Levante 2-0, Real Madrid showed why it is the country’s premier team.
After a good night’s sleep, we traveled to the city of Segovia, famous for its standing Roman aqueduct and, what is I think the most remarkable sight on the trip, the castle and throne room of the famed King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. It has also been said that the castle of Segovia was used as a model for the castle of the iconic Disney logo. Equally as impressive as these historic sites was the city’s breathtaking view of the countryside.
We ended the day with a Flamenco show in the city square. In a small establishment our group was treated to a display of passion and precision by a group of talented dancers. With the combination of their movements, rhythmic steps, and the famous “click-clack” of their castanets, the show was truly a sight to see.
The following day we traveled to the city of Toledo. Starting with a gorgeous view of the city from the surrounding mountains, we spent the day seeing the world famous blacksmiths of Toledo and their sword making, the artisans making Damasquina jewelry, and the magnificent Cathedral of Toledo. We finished the day with a cooking lesson at a Spanish Culinary Arts school, cooking paella, Spanish appetizers, and a delightful chocolate desert.
The next morning we bid “Adiós” to Madrid and began our drive to Seville. On the way we stopped in La Mancha, which many know to be home of the famous, albeit fictional, Don Quixote. In fact, we stopped at the very inn that Cervantes included in his masterpiece. After the inn, we made a quick detour to the city of Cordoba, where we visited the city’s historic Jewish quarter and its famous mosque-turned-cathedral. In fact, many of the famous Christian monuments were at one time buildings for Spain’s once extensive Muslim population. These buildings really make one appreciate the diversity of the culture of Spain.
Finally, after a day on the road we arrived at our next hotel in the beautiful city of Seville. We had a nice dinner and spent the night walking through the streets of this magical city. With orange trees growing up and down every street and something historic around every corner, the city is definitely a must see stop for anyone visiting the country.
The following morning we took a more complete tour of Seville. As a special treat to the sci-fi nerds on the trip, we stopped in the square that was used by George Lucas to shoot some of the Star Wars prequels. We then toured the city’s Gothic cathedral and climbed a tower that gave us a view of the entire city. The sight was quite breathtaking. Then after an afternoon of shopping, we returned to the hotel while taking another short sightseeing tour, this time by horse drawn carriage.
That night we met with some of the other groups visiting through the NETC program (National Educational Travel Council), of which we were a part of, for a party and dance boat ride through the Guadalquivir River in Seville. It was a good way to meet some of the other kids visiting the country and many of us established bonds with students from all over the United States.
On our last day we visited the majestic La Alhambra. The so called “Red City” was once a palace of the Ottoman Empire. The castle’s gardens were incredible and need to be experienced firsthand to be truly appreciated. From there we headed to our final destination, the city of Costa Del Sol.
After a wonderful dinner, where we had the pleasure of celebrating the birthday of our tour guide, Pablo, we also went for a late night visit to the beach. Though we couldn’t see much, we all got the chance to stand in the Mediterranean Sea, a truly memorable experience. The night was a perfect way to end a fantastic vacation.
The next day we headed home, and that, as they say, was that. The trip was a once in a lifetime experience for all of us. As Medford High Senior Elena Giurleo put it in a statement that echoed the sentiment of the entire group: “I believe everyone should experience what we did; it opened up our horizons like you wouldn’t believe.”
This trip enabled new friendships, novel and exciting experiences, and exposed us to the one of the richest cultures in the world. We’re so lucky we all got to experience this and it wouldn’t have happened without our amazing teachers. The trip truly brought the language to life. Our group would like to give a special thanks to Mrs. Nélida Lepore, who made this whole trip possible, Pablo, for being the best tour guide ever, and to Mr. Michael Skorker, Mrs. Lisa Bowler, and Mrs. Maryanne Camarra for helping us to richly experience Spain and facilitate the great times we had there.
Spring 2011
MHS Students Compete in Foreign Language National Exams
All national foreign language exam participants
French foreign language exam participants
Italian foreign language exam participants
Every spring a number of Medford High Schools students take part in the National Language Exams. This year 234 students participated in foreign language contests sponsored by national language organizations, AATSP (American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese), AATF (American Association of Teachers of French) and AATI (American Association of Teachers of Italian). Medford students received national and/or state recognition.
In Spanish, Silvia Quiñones scored in the 99th percentile in the level six bilingual category and was awarded a gold medal. Additionally, Silvia will be recognized at a formal ceremony at Regis College where she will be presented with a plaque and a monetary award. Also earning gold medals for scoring between the 95th and 97th percentile were: Joao Couto, Jennifer Frederick, Elizabeth Liu, Lucas Mazzotti, and Victor Oliviera.
Scoring between the 85th and 94th percentile and earning silver medals were: Kylie Baker, Daniel Beemon, Jamie deRosas, Nabonita Hoq,Sarah King, Winny Kwong Sito, Karina Martinez, Jeanne Nguyen, Maria Prodoscimo, Christopher Ribeiro, Mark Roberto, Anna Steele, Isabelle Thibault, Jason Trinh, and Lauren Walsh.
Scoring between the 76th and the 84th percentile and earning bronze medals were: Sebastian Aguirre, Yoann Antoine, Manuel DaCosta, Alison deRosas, Ferreira Kyle, Gia Greene, Lina Hart, Aaron King, Bailey Lee, Stephenson Lee, Daniela Lindermeyer, Nicholas Patten, Jesus Ramos, Kaleigh Smith, Shirley Truong, Meghan Vanstry, Leila Walker, and Mauricio Zambrana.
Scoring above the national average and earning Merit Certificates were: Adrian Alvarenga, Seth Brownmiller, Kelsey Buckley, Erica Budina, Gian, Jeff Chambers, Coelho, Alexander Del Torto, Carlos deOliveira, Elkhansaa Elguenaoui, Christian Healion, Carlos Henriquez, Katherine Kulik, Mitaly Lima, Nehemie Louis, Cristobal Martinez, John McElearney, Hely Medeiros Jr., Kayla Miguel, Anthony Nguyen, Emily Nixon, Nicky Pellegrini, Cecilia Petit, Deyvid Rocha, Joao Rosa, Sarah Ruemenapp, Bianca Silva, Denise Spinale, Nathaneal, Trent Sullivan, Mariam Taha, Paula Tramontin, Jason Trinh, Fred Vargas, Mariah Vasquez, Nathaniel Victor, Paul Williams, Sasha Wolfe, George Xanthopoulos, and Jean-Charles Zurawicki.
In Italian Bryan Silva received national recognition. Three students received state recognition and they are: Rebeca deOliveira, Jessica Carminato, and Elina Maffeo.
Scoring above the national average and earning Merit Certificates were: Josiane Almeida, Kevin Andrew, Barbara Araya, Barbra Araya, Nicole Avella, Brendon Breen, Ariana Colozzo, Hemilly Correa, Hevilly Correa, Shannon Froysa, Jordan Harris, Elijah Kissman, Alessia LaRocca, Giulia LaRocca, Kevin Lee, Jacqueline Luongo, Richard Lynch, and Brenda Palacios.
In French there were two Lauréat national students (scoring at or above the 95th percentile), Gia Greene who placed 8th in the Northeast region and 8th in the nation, and Laetitia Pierre Louis who scored 9th in the Northeast region and 6th in the nation. Scoring above national average and earning Merit Certificates were: Peter_Joseph DeGiovanni, George Leetch, Julia Leonard, Bianca Limage, Regine Jacques, Kevin Nguyen, Jane Pierre, Gaelle Rigaud, Audrey Ring, and Abigale Roth.
All students who participated in the national foreign language exams were treated to an ice cream sundae social on May 25.
McGlynn Students Win Contest Held by Italian Consulate
In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy, students from Ms. Romano’s fourth grade class compiled a booklet showcasing important Italians of the past 150 years. The class was helped by Rosetta Romagnoli, Italian teacher at the McGlynn Elementary School.
The booklet was submitted to a contest organized by Giuseppe Pastorelli, Consul General of the Italian Consulate of Boston, that was held to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy. The students are among five contest winners and they won the Attilio & Emilio Bandiera prize of $1000, which is awarded to the entry that displays a strong love for Italy, its history, its culture or its people. The winners were recognized during the Festa della Repubblica ceremonies on Sunday, May 29 at Christopher Columbus Park in the North End (pictured below).
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