World Languages

Urban’s World Languages Department aims to inspire students to become proficient in Mandarin Chinese, French, or Spanish by their Senior year and to continue their language learning beyond Urban in order to make a positive impact in a world changing exponentially due to technological innovation, globalization, and migration.

The tools of proficiency encompass both form (grammatical precision, extensive and expressive vocabulary, near-native accent, and intonation) and content (authentic and spontaneous communication exchanges, critical, analytical, and interpretive thinking skills). Our students learn to access and balance these two domains of language production from their first year onward by immersion in the target language, avoidance of English, and both instruction and assessment practices that require daily and active participation. 

Contact

Cristián Baidal

Cristián Baidal

World Languages Department Chair, Spanish Teacher, French Teacher