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New Bedford Public Schools

Middle School World Languages

NBPS Middle School World Languages Program

NBPS middle school students have the opportunity to study either Spanish or Portuguese as part of their AWT rotation, meeting once every three days. Students select their language in Grade 6 and continue studying the same language throughout all three years of middle school. Roosevelt Middle School students who are in the Dual Language Program, take Spanish as a World Language to enhance their vocabulary in school related topics. 

Instruction is grounded in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) framework and emphasizes proficiency-based practices aligned with the 2021 Massachusetts World Languages Framework and the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

In Grade 8, students who are identified as native or heritage speakers of Portuguese or Spanish have the opportunity to take a placement assessment to ensure appropriate course placement at the high school level.

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Meet our Middle School World Languages Team!

Maria Silva was born and raised in Brazil, where she began her career as a Geography teacher. After moving to the United States in 2001, she remained deeply connected to her passion for education and, in 2022, returned to the classroom. She currently teaches Portuguese as a World Language and is dedicated to fostering language proficiency while sharing the richness of Brazilian culture with her students. Maria is passionate about creating engaging learning experiences that inspire curiosity, cultural appreciation, and meaningful communication.

email: mariasilva@newbedfordschools.org

¡Hola! I am Mrs. Arco, a visiting teacher from Spain! I love learning and teaching modern languages such as Spanish, English and French. Nowadays, I am a lucky Spanish teacher at Roosevelt Middle School because I truly enjoy sharing my culture and knowledge with my students while also learning so much from them.

Mr. Pazos is enthusiastic about teaching languages. Mr. Pazos has been working in education for over twenty years and has worked in the USA on different programs for six school years.

 

Mariamo Bai is a Portuguese World Languages teacher at Keith Middle School. Originally from Mozambique, she brings heart, resilience, and strong values to her classroom each day. With a background in Education and experience teaching across diverse cultural settings, Ms. Bai is deeply passionate about languages and the power they hold to connect people and communities.

Oihane Gamboa

Middle School World Languages Spanish Teacher Keith Middle School

Dax Crocker

Middle School World Languages Spanish & Portuguese Teacher Keith Middle School

Rosa Arias

Middle School World Languages Spanish Teacher Normandin Middle School

Rosa Almeida

Middle School World Languages Portuguese Teacher Normandin Middle School