Learn a Language – Montessori Program in Chevy Chase
LEARN A World
Language
AND BECOME
A
global citizen
At Oneness-Family School we believe that learning another language is one of the most powerful ways to expand your world, understand another culture, and become a global citizen. Every student—from preschool through high school—takes part in our immersive World Languages Program, learning Spanish, Italian, or French.
- 37 YearsSince Oneness-Family School was founded in 1988.
- 75 CountriesRepresented by our students, families, faculty, and staff.
- 1 FamilyUnited by a belief in courage, compassion and love of learning.
Our school’s foreign language program is grounded in the Montessori approach. Students learn vocabulary, grammar and conversational fluency through student-led activities in small groups, learning to speak, write, and understand their chosen language. Our teachers, guides in this process, are all native speakers of the language they teach.
Take The Next Step
If you’re interested in learning more, we can arrange for you to visit the school and take a tour
Book a TourLanguage Learning By Level
Primary Programs
The World Languages program for our youngest learners, from preschool through kindergarten, introduces students to a new language in a playful, immersive way that reflects Montessori principles. Children develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through picture books, engaging stories, interactive games, and songs—all designed to spark curiosity and make learning enjoyable.
Following the Montessori approach, the classroom emphasizes hands-on, meaningful learning experiences. Each week, students complete projects and activities that connect language to real-world themes, giving them opportunities to explore, create, and internalize new vocabulary naturally. By combining structured guidance with freedom to explore, the program nurtures confident, independent learners who develop both language skills and a love for cultural exploration.
Lower Elementary
In our Lower Elementary program (grades 1–3), students continue developing their language skills through reading, writing, and interactive role-playing activities that bring their target language to life. Cultural projects rooted in practical experiences—like making a phone call, ordering at a restaurant, or navigating everyday situations—allow students to practice real-world conversation and build confidence in their fluency.
Following Montessori principles, classes are kept small to provide individualized attention and meaningful feedback. Students are encouraged to explore the language at their own pace, engage actively in their learning, and connect language study with broader cultural understanding. This hands-on, experiential approach helps young learners develop not only proficiency but also a lasting appreciation for the language and the cultures it represents.
Upper Elementary
In our Upper Elementary program (grades 4–5), students deepen their understanding of their chosen world language by expanding vocabulary and reinforcing key grammar concepts. Learning is hands-on and collaborative, with students working in small groups on creative projects, dialogues, and interactive activities that make language meaningful, engaging, and fun.
Aligned with Montessori principles, the program emphasizes independence, exploration, and peer collaboration. Students are encouraged to apply their language skills in authentic contexts, fostering both confidence and creativity. This approach builds a strong foundation in the foreign language, preparing students for more advanced study in middle and high school while nurturing curiosity, cultural awareness, and lifelong learning habits.
Middle School
In our Ambassadors Middle School program, the World Languages curriculum immerses students in authentic language use and global culture. Students explore the history, traditions, lifestyles, and customs of countries where their target language is spoken, all while learning and communicating in that language.
Classes focus on expanding vocabulary, mastering grammar structures, and developing practical conversation skills through meaningful, real-world contexts. Guided by Montessori principles, students take ownership of their learning, collaborate with peers, and engage in hands-on, culturally rich activities that make language study dynamic and relevant.
By the end of middle school, most students achieve advanced proficiency in Spanish, French, or Italian, often entering high school at Level 3, fully prepared to continue their language journey with confidence and fluency.
High School
In our High School program, the World Languages curriculum helps students refine their speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension skills through compositions, dialogues, and immersive activities. True to Montessori principles, learning is student-centered, with a strong emphasis on independent, interest-driven projects that allow each learner to explore topics meaningful to them.
Classes prioritize speaking in the target language, creating an environment where students can practice authentic communication and build confidence. Through collaborative and hands-on experiences, students develop fluency, cultural understanding, and the ability to express complex ideas, preparing them for advanced study, travel, or real-world language use beyond the classroom.
Quote: Meg Novick
Oneness taught me among a million other things, to love other people by default; to love our differences and individual contributions.
Oneness taught me among a million other things, to love other people by default; to love our differences and individual contributions. That everyone is multifaceted; that we must listen, communicate clearly, and work together in order to succeed. The most wonderful thing we can do is protect each other and lift each other up. What it feels like to be part of a safe community, how to speak up for myself and others. To know we belong to this planet and it is our duty to care for it. That family is as big as you allow it to be.
World Languages Faculty
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Fiorenza Castelli
Italian Teacher
Email
Biography
Fiorenza joined the Oneness-Family School World Language Team in 2019. Born in Bergamo, Italy, she moved to the DC area in 2009 where she discovered her passion for teaching the Italian language to students. From 2012 to 2014, Fiorenza carried out the “Nati Per Leggere DC” project, reading in Italian to children in the public libraries of DC and Northern Virginia.
Fiorenza also works as a teacher at the Casa Italiana Language School DC and the Italian Cultural Society of Maryland. She is an active member of the Italian non-profit organization Italians in DC. When not teaching Italian, she enjoys reading, classic and modern ballet, opera, musicals, and visiting museums with her family.
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Jackie Carvajal
World Language Program Coordinator, Spanish Teacher
Email
Biography
Jackie was born in Chile, where she pursued her bachelor’s degree in education. Twenty-two years ago she moved to Maryland and since then has been dedicated to teaching children and adolescents Spanish as a world language.
Jackie teaches with real passion, focusing on building a true connection with the student as a conduit to facilitate the learning process. She identifies the students’ skills and their needs to plan the best path towards target language goals, giving special attention to the engagement and motivation of each student. Overall, Jackie loves to teach through culture and life’s experiences.
Since 2001, Jackie has worked at Oneness-Family School as the World Language Coordinator and as a Spanish teacher. She teaches students from 3-years-old to 8th grade, an experience that has given her a vast understanding of children’s developmental stages. Jackie feels incredibly pleased when she introduces the Spanish language to the younger students through songs, games, role-playing, and craft activities and sees how fast students can learn. She feels equally rewarded when her middle school students learn grammar and conjugations, write paragraphs, and work on oral presentations. Jackie’s passion is embraced in each of her classes, no matter the age or the grade.
As a tutor, Jackie has helped many students to overcome the challenges of learning a foreign language. She gives strong attention to the needs of her students and works with them toward their success, promoting their confidence and enhancing their knowledge. Her goal is that her students not only learn Spanish but enjoy the learning process.
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Victorine Reina
French Teacher
Email
Biography
After a twenty-year career in accounting and management in France, Victorine decided to return to school and follow her interest in the field of education. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Education Sciences and a Master’s degree in International Cooperation in Education and Training from the University of the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris. Victorine has enjoyed working in French, international, and private schools throughout the DC area.
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Raya Salman
French Teacher
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Biography
After graduating with a degree in Art from the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, Raya moved to Paris, France, where she lived and earned a degree in Art and French Literature from the Université de La Sorbonne.
Raya taught Art and French, first in the United Kingdom for ten years and then in the United States. She is passionate about her students and uses an innovative teaching approach to keep them engaged.
When she is not teaching, Raya is a professional artist and is the author and illustrator of the children’s book, “Joey the Leopard/ Have You Seen My Spots?” Her hobbies include painting, cooking, swimming, and Martial Arts. She is a fifth-degree Black Belt Master in Tae Kwon Do and practices regularly.
Her mission in life: Be happy and make a difference in people’s lives!
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Debbie Kahn
American Sign Language (ASL) Teacher
Email
Biography
Debbie’s career journey is like a winding road trip through diverse landscapes. She began as a computer programmer in a bank but shifted gears to become a Montessori teacher and later the Associate Director at the Oneness-Family School (1992-2009). She then took a sharp turn and ventured off-road to travel to Niger with the nonprofit Amman Imman: Water is Life as the Associate Director, where she inspired students to assist indigenous populations affected by climate change, desertification, and water scarcity.
In addition to her professional pursuits, Debbie has also acquired fluency in sign language through her journey. She learned sign language from her deaf housemate and quickly became her interpreter at local events. As a teacher at Oneness, she taught sign language to students and engaged them in fun performances at festivals and in-house events. Now, over a decade after “graduating” Oneness, she’s back on the road, teaching American Sign Language (ASL) at the high school level.
Debbie holds a Montessori teaching certification from 1992 and a B.A. in Education from Goddard College (2007). In her free time, Debbie writes poetry, enjoys hiking, and loves exploring the wilderness with dogs and kids of all ages.
