Meet Our Faculty
World Languages and Cultures
World Languages Department
The Mission of the MICDS World Languages Department is to shape our students through language proficiency, intercultural learning, and global competence. Our curriculum spans Ancient Greek, Chinese, French, Latin, and Spanish, instilling linguistic mastery and a profound appreciation for cultural contexts. Emphasizing exploration and creativity through diverse lenses like current events, literature, music, dance, art, cuisine, history, film, and sciences, our program sparks curiosity and independent learning. Immersive experiences, both local and international, inject passion into language acquisition. Our approach, focused on empathy and curiosity, prepares students to embrace the world and its people with cultural sensitivity and compassion.
World Languages
Language Learning at MICDS
We teach four valuable languages at MICDS: Mandarin Chinese, French, Latin, and Spa
Students at MICDS take Spanish from Junior Kindergarten through sixth grade. When entering the seventh grade, they select which language they wish to study for the remainder of Middle and Upper School, grades 7-12.
recent stories
Explore our latest World Language stories.
Global Learning
The world awaits—local, domestic, and international learning opportunities.
MICDS offers partner school exchanges, service-learning trips, and a variety of on-campus, local, domestic, and international global learning opportunities. These programs inherently offer language and cultural learning opportunities. A sample of our Upper School global learning travel opportunities is below. In the 2024-25 school year, Upper Schoolers can participate in the Civil Rights Trip to the South, the France Exchange, the Italy Trip, the Marine Biology Trip to Florida, the Argentina Exchange, or the Ghana Travel Program!
Clubs
Department-related Clubs
In the Upper School, students have opportunities to participate in the following department-related extracurricular activities:
Classics Club
Bene venistis! Classics Club exists to connect students with the ancient world, the languages of Greek and Latin, and with one another outside of Latin class.
Le Cercle français (French Club)
Le Cercle français offers all students opportunities to explore French-speaking cultures through food, film, music, games, and more!
Manos Unidas (Spanish Club)
Manos Unidas strives to inspire its members to collaborate, appreciate, and accept Hispanic cultures through cultural enrichment, community engagement, service, and inclusive events such as food competitions, film screenings, guest speakers, and excursions.
Asian Student Association (ASA)
The Asian Student Association is dedicated to fostering a community where individuals can share their perspectives and experiences while exploring and celebrating diverse Asian cultures.
American Sign Language Club
The ASL Club meets to learn the uses, benefits, and art of sign language and practice together.
International Council
The International Council seeks to improve global and cultural understanding and acceptance of MICDS’ growing diversity. Members organize events on campus that showcase the variety of world cultures, languages, and customs of MICDS families and people in the St. Louis area.
Latino/Hispanic Affinity Group
We encourage students of Latino and/or Hispanic heritage to join this club as we create a welcoming space for its members so they can comfortably share their experiences and identities while forming meaningful connections with their peers. We will celebrate our diverse cultures and nurture leadership skills by fostering meaningful conversations and participating in educational outreach within the community.
Model United Nations (UN)
According to the United Nations Association, “Model UN is a simulation of the UN General Assembly and its other multilateral bodies where students perform an ambassador role while debating topics such as gender equality, climate action, global health, and more.” Model UN focuses on diplomacy, cooperation, solving real-world issues, and research and writing and debate skills, and it is a chance for teens to show active citizenship.
Awards
- Awards, Medals, and Seals
MICDS students who study a world language have the opportunity to earn medals and awards on the following exams or credential programs:
- National French Contest
- National Latin Exam
- National Spanish Exam
- Seal of Biliteracy – a prestigious credential that acknowledges students who have gone above and beyond in their language studies. To earn the Seal, students must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in all four language domains: reading, writing, listening, and speaking on the STAMP (Standardized Measurement of Proficiency) assessment, which is an assessment aligned with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency guidelines. This is offered for all languages except Latin which offers the National Latin Exam.
International Expo
MICDS International Expo
The International Expo is a biennial school-wide event that promotes, honors, and celebrates MICDS’ cultural diversity with a multicultural family fun event to help MICDS students and families embrace all the world’s people with compassion. The entire MICDS community is invited to visit and learn about the cultures and traditions of more than 40 countries through a cultural show, interactive activities, educational displays, artifacts, and food tastings. Read about the 2024 International Expo and watch a video below of the 2022 event!
"More than ever, our nation needs responsible men and women who can meet the challenges of this world with confidence and embrace all its people with compassion."
Mission Excerpt