Spring 2017 Middle School Multi-Language Sampler Briefing
Spring 2017 Middle School Multi-Language Sampler Briefing
for
Counselors, Administrators and Site Facilitators
Notice to students and parents: This information is intended for distribution through districts and may contain details that do not apply to your local district’s program. If you are interested in enrolling in courses with Montana Digital Academy, your first contact should be with the counseling department or administration of your local school to discuss what is available locally.
Montana Digital Academy is pleased to announce open enrollment for its Spring 2017 program for the middle school Multi-Language Sampler (MLS). Note: This information is accurate at the time of publication. We will make changes to this page as details change.
Montana Digital Academy announces the continuation of our program designed to help middle school students begin to experience world languages and online learning. Middle school is a time of exploration and discovery for students, and as they get closer to entering high school, they will face a variety of challenges and opportunities designed to prepare them for their future choices. MTDA offers the Multi-Language Sampler (MLS) as just such an opportunity for 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students to explore up to five different languages: Spanish, French, German, Latin, and Mandarin Chinese before beginning high school.
Registration
- Registration for the Spring 2017 workshops opens on December 5, 2016.
- Please review our student registration page for information on data collection and student registration in the site facilitator handbook. That resource is located here: link.
- Please note that the MLS program has limited spaces available. Course spots are first come, first served. We have no means of holding enrollments or otherwise reserving spaces, so, the actual act of enrollment in our systems is the only method to reserve a spot.
Program Information
- Enrollment for Spring 2017 opens on December 5, 2017. We have received increased interest in the MLS program for the Spring session, so we expect sections to fill quickly.
- Our 2016-2017 Academic Calendar is located here: link. MLS course start and end days are firm and may or may not line up with your grading periods or quarters/trimesters/semesters.
- Technical requirements for Montana Digital Academy courses are located here. A reminder that technical requirements need to be in place on day one of the session.
Workshop Availability
| Fall Session 1 | Fall Session 2 | Spring Session 1 | Spring Session 2 |
| Spanish (2 sections) | Spanish (2 sections) | Spanish (2 sections) | Spanish (2 sections) |
| French (2 sections) | French (2 sections) | French (2 sections) | French (2 sections) |
| German (1 section) | German (1 section) | German (1 section) | German (1 section) |
| Latin (1 section) | Mandarin Chinese (1 section) | Latin (1 section) | Mandarin Chinese (1 section) |
| Stepping Stones to MLS | Stepping Stones to MLS | Stepping Stones to MLS | Stepping Stones to MLS |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the middle school Multi Language Sampler program?
MLS is scheduled for four 7-week sessions during which students will have the opportunity to have a meaningful experience in the language and culture in one of the five different world languages MTDA offers. In each 7-week session, a variety of languages will be offered to provide the opportunity for students to try one, two, three, four or five languages during their middle school years.
Please note: this is NOT designed as a comprehensive study in any given language. Only seven weeks of instruction is available in any given language. Please note that once a student has completed a language workshop successfully, the should not be enrolled in the same language again.
Why offer the MLS program?
The purpose of a multi-language exploratory language program is to allow students to experience several languages before deciding which language to study in a later course when they enter high school. The MLS program is designed to create a series of meaningful language-learning opportunities for middle school students that will lead to a better and more informed decision about their high school experience. With this goal in mind middle school students should “taste” several or all of the MLS language flavors before attempting a regular high school online world language course.
What will students experience in the MLS program?
Middle school students will sample the flavor of the MTDA world language curriculum in their 7-week experience. The MLS program uses adventures to create engaging and productive lessons in grammar and vocabulary. Listening comprehension, oral production, reading, writing, and cultural awareness are all emphasized by standards formulated by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The unique MLS program includes engaging, age-appropriate content, games, and culturally relevant activities, helping students to enjoy their early language experience.
What is Exploring Languages with MTDA/Stepping Stones to MLS?
Exploring Languages with MTDA/Stepping Stones to MLS is an introductory class we offer to assist students that may be challenged by the independence or technical skill requirements of the online environment. The seven-week workshop will introduce students to online learning, assignment completion, and technological processes of being an online student.