How does the department/program encourage freedom of inquiry and the teaching of critical thinking skills and independent thinking?
As a student-centered, proficiency-based program, the Upper School French & Spanish Department naturally encourages freedom of inquiry and the teaching of both critical and independent thinking skills. Discovery and learning fall squarely on the individual, in a fully supportive and cooperative, small-classroom environment. The Department encourages methods for teaching critical thinking through daily conversation that promotes analyses and sharing of opinions, proficiency tests (aural, oral and writing), reading quizzes (including authentic literatures), oral presentations and other projects that provide some flexibility in topic-choice and style of presentation (including the use of PowerPoint, internet and video), formal and informal compositions, personal journals, one-on-one interviews (formal and informal, structured and spontaneous dialog), daily student-centered homework, etc.
