Modern & Classical Languages

The Modern and Classical Languages Faculty involves the students in full cultural immersion, teaching them to not only learn another language but also to gain insight into and garner respect for the people who are native users of the language.

The MCL teachers are always looking for that "extra" that makes the difference between us and other foreign language programs. We do our best to give our students different activities using multiple approaches that allow them to acquire the necessary skills to understand the language and the culture.

National French Honor Society (Société Honoraire de Français )- The local high school chapter provides a vehicle to focus activities around French language and Francophone literatures and cultures and to encourage participation in the annual writing contest and travel grant competition.  In addition, students can acquire leadership skills by serving as officers, directing the initiation ceremony, or leading other chapter events. Moderator: Ms. Paola Apolinares

Spanish Honor Society (Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica) - The Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (SHH) is an honor society for high school students enrolled in Spanish and/or Portuguese, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP).  The mission of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica is to recognize high school achievement in Spanish and Portuguese and to promote interest in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian studies. Moderator: Ms. Paola Apolinares

American Sign Language Honor Society - The ASL Honor Society is an opportunity for ASL students to gain recognition for high academic achievement in their study of ASL. Recognition takes the form of honor cords, the Alice Cogswell Medal, or the Laurent Clerc Medal. In addition to high academic achievement, members of the ASLHS are required to perform community service in their local Deaf community (if available) which enhances ASL skills in addition to developing character and citizenship. The ASL Honor Society also provides scholarships and hosts the annual ASL literature competition for students. The ASLHS also provides mini-grants for ASL teachers. Moderator: Mrs. Phyllis Ballenger

American Sign Language (ASL) Club - The BMHS ASL Club seeks to educate and share the culture and language of the Deaf Community with the BMHS Community.  In addition to functioning as a source of information on Deaf Culture, the club will participate in and host special events for  Deaf History Month but not limited to that month. This club is open to all students, you don’t have to know ASL or take an ASL class to join. Moderator: Ms. Phyllis Ballenger

French Club - The French Club is open to all French students and anyone with an interest in the French language or Francophone cultures. The French Club aims to promote enthusiasm for the French language and Francophone culture through activities, projects, discussion, and food!  French Club Moderator: Ms. Paola Apolinares

Students in Honors Spanish and all French students are required to participate in the National Exams. These exams take place every Spring. The National Spanish Exam (NSE) is the most widely used Spanish test in the United States and the National French Contest/Le Grand Concours is an annual competition sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French. 

Advanced Placement courses are available in French Language, Spanish Language, and Spanish Literature. The focus of these courses is on mastering the speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension skills necessary to go into the exam with confidence. For more information, go to Advanced Placement Program.

Why should students study languages? What are some of the benefits for students who study languages?

Students should study foreign languages not only for the obvious cultural, historic and socio-political awareness, but also because bilingualism shows definitive cognitive advantages.  A 2022 meta-analysis found that 90% of studies showed that students who learn a second language perform better across a range of academic subjects than students who don't.  When students study a foreign language they inevitably have to learn something about the culture of the people who speak it. This means that the students do not only expand their linguistic skills, but their understanding of people of other cultures as well. Studying a foreign language is the best way to bridge the gap between cultures.

Why study languages at Bishop McNamara?

BMHS recruits language teachers who are native speakers and/or have near-native fluency and are experts in their field. While some are natives of the language, all are professionals who use the language apart from their lives here at the school. This keeps them abreast of current cultural and language developments and therefore, provides BMHS students with useful information that broadens their scope of America and abroad. Bishop McNamara offers the student a well-focused foreign language program, as well as a nurturing and dynamic classroom atmosphere, where he/she would be able to maximize the learning experience.

How can parents help their students to be successful in the study of foreign languages?

The best thing parents can do to help their student achieve success in the study of foreign languages is to encourage them to visit and practice the language each day. Whether it be through the use of the website tutorials or through reading a book, or even watching TV in the target language, students should come in contact with the language each day.

Using the promise of travel abroad, either while in high school and/or college, can be very enticing to students learning a foreign language.

How far can my student go in the study of foreign languages here at the Bishop McNamara?

Extraordinarily capable and motivated students can go as far as the AP level in Spanish, French and Latin. If a student has an interest in excelling in any given language, he or she will go the extra mile to complete all the assignments and make use of the target language as much as possible. Additionally, some students are able to work their schedules in such a way that they can take four years in one language and, somewhere along the way, pick up a second language. We highly encourage the study of more than one language if the schedule allows for it.

Travel with us and really experience the languages and cultures you are studying.